Missing just 80 minutes of sleep a night may lead to weight gain, Columbia study finds
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Missing just 80 minutes of sleep a night may lead to weight gain, Columbia study finds
The findings, published this week in the Annals of Internal Medicine, are based on pooled data from two randomised crossover trials involving 95 adults who normally slept seven to eight hours a night. During one phase of the study, participants delayed their bedtime by about 90 minutes, resulting in an average sleep loss of roughly 80 minutes each night for six weeks. In another phase, they followed their normal sleep routine.
Moneycontrol News
July 10, 2026 / 18:14 IST
Adults who slept about 80 minutes less each night for six weeks gained weight and became less active, a clinical study found.
Sleeping about 80 minutes less than usual every night could gradually lead to weight gain, according to a new study by researchers at Columbia University. The six-week clinical trial found that adults who consistently reduced their sleep gained an average of around 453 grams and spent more time being inactive, highlighting sleep as an important factor in preventing obesity and related health problems
The findings, published this week in the Annals of Internal Medicine, are based on pooled data from two randomised crossover trials involving 95 adults who normally slept seven to eight hours a night. During one phase of the study, participants delayed their bedtime by about 90 minutes, resulting in an average sleep loss of roughly 80 minutes each night for six weeks. In another phase, they followed their normal sleep routine
Researchers monitored participants using wrist devices that tracked sleep and physical activity. They also measured body weight, waist circumference, body composition and hormones linked to appetite. By the end of the sleep restriction period, participants had gained about one pound, or roughly 453 grams, on average. Waist circumference also increased slightly
The study also found that participants became less active when they slept less. On average, they spent 17 extra minutes each day being sedentary. Among men and postmenopausal women, inactivity increased by nearly 30 minutes a day. Researchers noted that this rise could not be explained simply by being awake for longer
Lead researcher Marie-Pierre St-Onge said the results suggest that adequate sleep may help lower the risk of weight gain and obesity related conditions such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. First author Faris Zuraikat added that although the average weight gain over six weeks was modest, the pattern could become meaningful if poor sleep continues over months or years
Experts said the study is stronger than many previous sleep experiments because it reflects the mild but chronic sleep loss experienced by many adults rather than extreme sleep deprivation. However, they cautioned that the trial involved people already at higher cardiometabolic risk, so the findings may not fully apply to everyone. Longer studies are needed to understand the long-term impact
The researchers say the message is simple. Alongside healthy eating and regular exercise, getting enough sleep should be treated as an essential part of maintaining a healthy weight
Moneycontrol News
first published: Jul 10, 2026 06:14 pm
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Shubhi Mishra
