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    Sleep Duration and Obesity: A Debate overview by Mekdar.com
    العلاقة بين مدة النوم و السمنة: الجدل لا زال قائم ... مع مقدار

    Sleep Duration and Obesity: A Debate - العلاقة بين مدة النوم و السمنة: الجدل لا زال قائم


    Is there a link between sleep duration and obesity? Discover the facts, myths, and controversies surrounding this issue in our latest blog post.

    Sleep duration is the amount of time that a person spends sleeping in a 24-hour period. It is one of the factors that can affect a person's health and well-being, including their weight status. However, there is an ongoing debate about whether sleep duration has a causal relationship with obesity, or whether it is just a correlate of other factors that influence weight gain. In this blog post, We will present the arguments for and against the hypothesis that sleep duration affects obesity risk, and we will evaluate the evidence from both sides.

     

    Sleep duration and obesity, Relationship between sleep and obesity, How much sleep do we need, Obesity prevention and sleep, Sleep quality and body weight

    Historical Note:

    The idea that sleep might be linked to obesity dates back to the 1980s, when researchers first observed that people who slept less tended to weigh more. Since then, numerous studies have been conducted to investigate this relationship. Some have found a clear link between short sleep duration and increased risk of obesity, while others have found no significant association. The debate continues today, with some experts arguing that sleep duration is a major factor in obesity prevention, while others remain skeptical.

     

    Argument 1: Sleep duration affects obesity risk

    The proponents of this argument claim that sleep duration has a direct and independent effect on obesity risk, by influencing the physiological and behavioral mechanisms that regulate energy balance. For example, lack of sleep may disrupt hormones that regulate hunger and satiety, leading to increased appetite and overeating. It may also affect metabolism and energy expenditure, making it harder for the body to burn calories effectively. Additionally, people who sleep less may have less energy and motivation to engage in physical activity, which can contribute to weight gain.

    They cite several lines of evidence to support their claim, such as:

    - Experimental studies that have manipulated sleep duration in humans and animals, and have observed changes in appetite hormones, glucose metabolism, inflammation, and energy expenditure. For example, a study by Spiegel et al. (2004) found that restricting healthy young men to 4 hours of sleep per night for 6 nights resulted in increased levels of ghrelin (a hunger-stimulating hormone), decreased levels of leptin (a satiety-inducing hormone), and increased hunger and appetite, especially for high-carbohydrate foods.


    - Epidemiological studies that have examined the association between sleep duration and obesity in large populations, and have adjusted for potential confounding factors such as age, sex, physical activity, diet, socioeconomic status, and health conditions. For example, a meta-analysis by Bacaro et al. (2020) included 45 studies with more than 1.5 million adults from different countries, and found that short sleep duration (<7 hours per night) was associated with a 25% higher risk of obesity compared to normal sleep duration (7-9 hours per night), after adjusting for multiple covariates.
    - Biological plausibility that sleep duration can affect obesity risk through its impact on circadian rhythms, which are the internal clocks that regulate various physiological processes in the body. Disruption of circadian rhythms by insufficient or irregular sleep can impair the function of organs and systems involved in energy balance, such as the brain, the gut, the liver, the pancreas, the adipose tissue, and the immune system.

     

    Argument 2: Sleep duration does not affect obesity risk

    The opponents of this argument claim that sleep duration has no causal effect on obesity risk, but rather it is a marker of other factors that are responsible for weight gain. They challenge the evidence from the other side by pointing out some limitations and alternative explanations, such as:

    - Lack of consistency and specificity in the experimental studies that have manipulated sleep duration. Some studies have found no effect or even opposite effects of sleep restriction on appetite hormones, glucose metabolism, inflammation, and energy expenditure. Moreover, some studies have used extreme or unrealistic levels of sleep deprivation or extension, which may not reflect the typical variations in sleep duration among the general population.
    - Lack of causality and reverse causation in the epidemiological studies that have examined the association between sleep duration and obesity. Most studies are observational and cannot prove that sleep duration causes obesity or vice versa. In fact, there is evidence that obesity can cause short sleep duration by affecting sleep quality and increasing the risk of sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea.
    - Confounding by genetic and environmental factors that influence both sleep duration and obesity risk. There may be genetic variations that predispose some individuals to sleep less or more than others, and also affect their susceptibility to weight gain. Similarly, there may be environmental factors that affect both sleep duration and obesity risk, such as stress, social norms, work schedules, light exposure, and access to food.

     

    Conclusion

    The debate about whether sleep duration affects obesity risk is not settled yet. There is evidence from both sides that supports or challenges the hypothesis. However, based on the current state of knowledge, it seems more likely that sleep duration has a modest effect on obesity risk, especially when it is chronically short (<6 hours per night) or long (>10 hours per night). Therefore, it may be beneficial for people who are concerned about their weight to aim for a healthy sleep duration of 7-9 hours per night, as part of a balanced lifestyle that includes a nutritious diet and regular physical activity.

    Waleed Foad

    Dr. Waleed Foad

    Physician Nutrition Consultant, For 15+ years

    Master degree in Public Health, Majoring: Nutrition


    Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)


    Alexandria University, Egypt.

    Posted on
    01 Aug 2019
    by:
    Walaa Foula

    Dr. Walaa Foula

    Physician Nutrition Consultant, For 17+ years

    Doctorate degree in Public Health, Majoring: Nutrition


    Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)


    Alexandria University, Egypt.

    Posted on
    01 Aug 2019
    by:
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