Sleeping Patterns Cause Imbalance and Obesity

US obesity rates have been climbing for years, and about two-thirds of Americans are already too heavy. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has indicated that an estimated 42 percent of Americans will be obese by the year 2030. 

There are many studies on link between sleep and weight control. Some studies indicate weight gain due to sleep disruption while others state that diet affects sleep.

Evidence linking partial sleep deprivation to energy imbalance is relevant to weight gain prevention and weight loss promotion. The new study conducted by the researchers from The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, bases their finding on an extensive review of literature that was published over a fifteen year period.

"Various investigations, although diverse, indicate an effect of partial sleep deprivation on body weight management," says lead investigator Sharon M. Nickols-Richardson, PhD, MD, professor, Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park. "The intriguing relationship between partial sleep deprivation and excess adiposity makes partial sleep deprivation a factor of interest in body weight regulation, particularly in weight loss."

According to the report more than 35 percent of the American adults are obese and more than 28 percent sleep less than six hours a night.

The weight loss strategies call in for a lifestyle change including diet and exercise, alteration in daily routine including sleep behaviors.

For the study the researchers evaluated articles between 1996 and 2011 to determine the role of partial sleep deprivation on energy balance and weight regulation. For the methodology the team constructed a series of comparative tables detailing individual study populations, study design, energy intake, energy expenditure and measurement of the hormones gherlin, leptin, insulin, glucose and cristol.

On analyzing of these characteristics they identified a set of patterns, including reduced insulin sensitivity, increase in ghrelin, and decreases in leptin among partially sleep-deprived individuals.  Changes in ghrelin and leptin influenced energy intake among the study populations.

"Changes in these hormones coinciding with an energy-reduced diet paired with changes in response to partial sleep deprivation may be expected to increase ghrelin and decrease leptin concentrations even further to promote hunger," says Dr. Nickols-Richardson.

According to the researchers a further study is required in order to determine the effects of sleep deprivation on body composition and substrate use.

They suggest that evaluation of an individual's sleep patterns combined with regular, sufficient sleep may benefit healthy weight management.