Even Mild Sleep Deprivation May Lead to Weight Gain

Many studies examining the link between sleep deprivation and obesity have focused on severe sleep deprivation, such as restricting participants’ sleep to about four hours a night. These studies suggest that this may lead to increased appetite and overeating, which in turn could contribute to weight gain.

Because very few people can endure such severe sleep restrictions for more than a few days, though, the practical utility of this research is limited, and it hasn’t necessarily clarified whether more common and milder types of sleep deprivation, such as getting five to six hours of sleep per night, actually lead to weight gain.

This is the backdrop for a recent study by a research team at Columbia University’s Vagelos School of Medicine, which revealed that chronic, mild sleep deprivation—which is estimated to affect about 30 percent of adults—can lead to weight gain.

“Our study shows that getting adequate sleep may help...

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