A new study from Columbia University in New York has linked reduced sleep duration to gradual weight gain and increased sedentary behavior. Researchers found that volunteers who typically slept at least seven hours a night but then reduced their sleep by an average of 80 minutes nightly for six weeks gained about one pound on average during that period.

Led by Professor Marie-Pierre St-Onge of Columbia’s nutritional medicine department, the study also showed that participants spent more time sitting down, with sleep-deprived men reducing physical activity by approximately 30 minutes daily. Dr. Faris Zuraikat, a member of the research team, noted the significance of these findings over time, suggesting that sustained sleep loss of less than 90 minutes nightly could lead to clinically meaningful weight gain when extrapolated over a year.

The researchers highlighted that modest nightly sleep reduction does not produce immediate drastic weight changes but contributes to gradual increases that may accumulate and influence overall health. St-Onge emphasized the potential implications for obesity-related health risks, such as heart disease and diabetes, underscoring that adequate sleep might play a role in preventing these conditions.

Previous research has shown that severe short-term sleep deprivation can alter appetite regulation and increase overeating, factors known to promote weight gain. This study adds to the growing body of evidence linking even moderate sleep curtailment with changes in body weight and activity levels.

The study’s findings were published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. Researchers stress the importance of considering sleep as a modifiable factor in public health strategies aimed at reducing obesity and associated diseases.