Sleep Problems Linked to Obesity, Diabetes
Apr-11-2012

Lack of sleep puts people at greater risk of obesity and diabetes, a new study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine confirmed. Sporadic and irregular sleep may cause a decreased metabolic rate, which could contribute to weight gain and a myriad of long-term health problems.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston found that disrupted sleep patterns raised blood sugar levels and slowed the body's metabolic rate, or the rate at which the body burns calories while at rest.
While several studies have analyzed sleep patterns in humans through observational epidemiological studies, this is the first to examine sleep behaviors in a completely controlled laboratory environment by mimicking jet lag and typical shift work sleep hours over a significant period of time.
"These findings are a substantial step forward from past work," said Orfeu M. Buxton, neuroscientist and lead study author. "We observed a new mechanism by which disrupted circadian (24-hour) rhythms can increase diabetes risk. Also somewhat surprisingly, these effects occurred in both young and older adults, and men and women."
The study included 21 health people who underwent sleep cycle tests for six weeks. Not only did researchers control how many hours of sleep each participant had, but they also controlled when they slept and other lifestyle factors, including activities and diet. Researchers varied the participants' sleep patterns. After a period of optimal sleep, or 10 hours, study participants then only slept about 6 during a 24-hour period. The sleep was sporadic throughout the cycle and intended to mimic a rotating shift work pattern. Participants ended the study with nine nights of recovery sleep.

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