Research Highlights Link Between Sleep and Obesity Risks

(Newswire.net — October 28, 2022) Orlando, FL — Over the years, scientists have been looking into the factors affecting weight gain. Time and again it has been found that obesity has multiple risk factors, which include sleep.

A study was carried out by investigators at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and collaborators.

In this research, the researchers highlight the need for sufficient sleep during the first months of life. It suggests that newborns who are able to sleep longer and wake up less throughout the night are at a reduced likelihood of being overweight in infancy. 

The findings of this interesting study were published in Sleep.

“While an association between insufficient sleep and weight gain is well-established in adults and older children, this link has not been previously recognized in infants,” said study co-author Susan Redline, MD, MPH.

Redline is a senior physician in the Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders at Brigham. 

“In this study, we found that not only shorter nighttime sleep, but more sleep awakenings, were associated with a higher likelihood of infants becoming overweight in the first six months of life.”

In carrying out this research, Redline and colleagues monitored 298 newborns born at Massachusetts General Hospital between 2016 and 2018. 

Certain factors were taken into account, such as their sleep patterns and it was done through the use of ankle actigraphy watches. It is worth noting these are devices that measure patterns of activity and rest over multiple days.

It’s found that there was a correlation between just one additional hour of sleep and a 26 percent reduction in the infant’s risk of being overweight. Further, infants that woke up less throughout the night faced a lower risk of excess weight gain. 

“Parents should consult their pediatricians on the best practices to promote healthy sleep, like keeping consistent sleep schedules, providing a dark and quiet space for sleeping, and avoiding having bottles in bed,” said Redline.

Scientists have long been studying the factors that contribute to obesity. Time and again it’s strongly recommended to resort to the measures helpful for weight management, which primarily include making dietary and lifestyle improvements.

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