Reduced Sleep Linked to Weight Gain and Hormone Changes in New Study

A six‑week experiment involving 95 adults who cut their nightly sleep by 1.5 hours showed an average weight increase of 0.45 kg. The participants, who normally slept 7.5 hours, also exhibited higher leptin levels and reduced energy expenditure, partly due to more sedentary behavior. The study was led by Marie‑Pierre St‑Onge, director of the Center of Excellence for Sleep and Circadian Research at Columbia University.

Separately, Indonesian sleep coach Vishal Dasani emphasized that total sleep duration remains crucial. He argued that eight hours of sleep, even with limited deep‑sleep time, is healthier than shorter sleep periods that prioritize deep‑sleep phases. Dasani warned against focusing solely on deep sleep, noting that the full sleep cycle is needed for optimal physical and mental health.