Lead
Skimping on Sleep Is Causing You to Gain Weight, Scientists Warn
A new Columbia <a href="https://healthylife7.com/study-finds-special-tomato-drink-may-reduce-inflammation-in-adults-with-obesity/" title="Study finds special tomato drink may reduce inflammation in adults with obesity”>study finds that losing a modest amount of sleep per night drives weight gain and increases daily inactivity
Jul 22, 2026
Photo: Adobe Stock
Listen to this ArticleMore info
0:00 / 0:00
Getting a good night’s rest has always been important for your health. But this new Columbia University study just found that not getting enough shut-eye can also quietly lead to weight gain and increase your risk of chronic disease
Researchers at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons published a new study in the peer-reviewed journal Annals of Internal Medicine earlier this month suggesting that short sleep can negatively impact both body weight and composition
The study found that adults who shorten their nightly sleep by 80 minutes for six weeks gained one pound on average
The findings add to a growing body of evidence that getting consistent sleep may play an important role in lowering the risk of obesity-related diseases
Featured Video
An Inc.com Featured Presentation
“Our study shows that getting adequate sleep may help reduce the risk of weight gain and obesity-related conditions like heart disease and diabetes,” Marie-Pierre St-Onge, a professor of nutritional medicine in Columbia’s Department of Medicine and Institute for Human Nutrition and the study’s leader said in a statement
Previous studies have established that poor sleep is connected to obesity—but these studies only ever focused on those with severe sleep deprivation, defined as getting four hours of sleep or less. Such severe sleep restrictions cannot be tolerated long term. What these studies do not explore are the effects of moderate and consistent sleep deprivation, which impacts 30 percent of adults
Less than six hours? Expect to gain a pound
The study looked at 95 adults who typically sleep between seven to eight hours a night. During one six-week study period, the participants delayed their usual bedtime by 90 minutes. During another six-week period, they followed their normal routine
