The nightly habit that might cause you to gain weight without noticing

A new study published in the journal "Annals of Internal Medicine" suggests that a regular reduction in sleep hours may lead to weight gain. Researchers at the Columbia University Medical Center examined 95 adults and compared periods of sufficient sleep with six weeks during which they cut about 90 minutes from the participants' nightly rest.

At the end of the sleep restriction period, it was found that participants had gained an average of about one kilogram and showed slightly larger waist circumferences, along with an increase in sedentary time without significant changes in physical activity. The researchers noted that no significant changes in fat or muscle mass were recorded, and that the study did not examine the total amount of food consumed.

The effect of sleep deprivation on metabolism and menopause

Medical experts explain that sleep plays a critical role in regulating the body's metabolism. According to Dr. Sumi Javid, chronic sleep deprivation challenges the body's ability to regulate weight, with women going through menopause being particularly vulnerable due to a higher prevalence of sleep disorders at this stage of life.

The study comes against the backdrop of growing recognition of the importance of sleep for heart health, with the American Heart Association recommending that adults sleep between seven and nine hours a night. Alongside this, the researchers highlighted several limitations in the study, including its relatively short six-week duration and a small sample size that did not allow for in-depth comparisons between different groups.