Research

Hormonal

Short sleep duration is independently associated with increased risk of obesity and weight gain, particularly in children and younger adults.

Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep per night. This is not just about feeling rested; it is a critical weight management tool. Short sleep duration is linked to hormonal changes (lower leptin, higher ghrelin) that increase hunger and obesity risk, especially in younger individuals. Protecting sleep duration is as important as diet and exercise for maintaining a healthy weight.

ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
Short sleep duration appears independently associated with weight gain, particularly in younger age groups.
Sanjay R. Patel et al. · Obesity · 2008

Why this rating

The review includes 36 studies, mostly observational/cross-sectional, with no experimental studies manipulating sleep to measure weight outcomes, precluding definitive causal conclusions.

Source

Short Sleep Duration and Weight Gain: A Systematic Review

Sanjay R. Patel et al. · Obesity · 2008

DOI 10.1038/oby.2007.118

systematic_reviewCited 1,509×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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