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Short sleep duration and weight gain: a systematic review
1Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University Hospitals Case Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA. srp20@case.edu
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)
|February 2, 2008
Summary
Short sleep duration is linked to weight gain, especially in children and adolescents. More research is needed to confirm this link between sleep deprivation and obesity.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- The global obesity epidemic is rising alongside increasing rates of chronic sleep deprivation.
- Physiological mechanisms suggest sleep deprivation may impact weight via appetite, physical activity, and thermoregulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing literature on short sleep duration as an independent risk factor for obesity and weight gain.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was performed in MEDLINE (1966-2007) using keywords related to sleep and weight/obesity.
- Additional studies were identified through bibliographies and expert consultation.
- Inclusion criteria required studies to report an association between sleep duration and weight measures.
Main Results:
- Thirty-six relevant publications were identified, comprising 31 cross-sectional and 5 prospective studies.
- Short sleep duration showed a consistent association with obesity in children.
- Adult studies yielded mixed results in cross-sectional analyses, but longitudinal studies indicated a positive association with future weight gain, diminishing with age.
Conclusions:
- Short sleep duration appears to be an independent risk factor for weight gain, particularly in younger populations.
- Limitations in study designs, such as a lack of experimental data and objective sleep measures, prevent definitive conclusions.
- Further research employing objective sleep assessments and experimental designs is necessary to establish a causal link between sleep deprivation and obesity.
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