Research
Mixed
Short sleep duration (less than 5 hours per night) is significantly associated with an increased risk of obesity, with an odds ratio of 1.89 in children and 1.55 in adults.
Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep per night. Sleeping less than 5 hours significantly increases your risk of obesity. Prioritize sleep as a key component of your metabolic health strategy.
StrongSupportsVERY_HIGH confidence
A comprehensive meta-analysis encompassing 36 studies and a combined total of 634,511 individuals... reported a significant association between short sleep duration—defined as less than 5 hours per night—and an increased risk of obesity. The odds ratio (OR) for obesity was 1.89 in children and 1.55 in adults.
Why this rating
Based on a meta-analysis of 36 studies with over 634,000 participants.
Source
The transition from preclinical to clinical obesity: the importance of a borderline stage
Jesus Emanuel Maldonado-Arvizu et al. · Clinical Science · 2026
narrative_reviewCited 2×
Read the paper This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →