Effect of Sleep Extension on Objectively Assessed Energy Intake Among Adults With Overweight

Question: What is the effect of sleep extension on objectively assessed energy intake in adults with overweight in their usual home environment?

Findings: In this randomized clinical trial of 80 adults with overweight and habitual sleep less than 6.5 hours per night, those randomized to a 2-week sleep extension intervention significantly reduced their daily energy intake by approximately 270 kcal compared with the control group. Total energy expenditure did not significantly differ between the sleep extension and control groups, resulting in a negative energy balance with sleep extension.

Meaning: The findings suggest that improving and maintaining adequate sleep duration could reduce weight and be a viable intervention for obesity prevention and weight loss programs.

In a nutshell: With 8.5 hours of sleep a night, those studied reduced their caloric intake by about 270 calories per day, resulting in potential weight loss. Conversely, inadequate sleep may cause us to consume more calories daily, thereby contributing to weight gain.

Source: JAMA Internal Medicine