In-Lab Study Links Sleep Deprivation to Weight Gain
Larry Hand
July 02, 2013

Restricting sleep to 4 hours a night for 5 consecutive nights led to more weight gain for sleep-restricted participants than for control participants, according to results from a large, diverse, in-laboratory assessing sleep's effect on weight, calorie intake, and meal timing. The study was published in the July issue ofSleep.

Doctoral candidate Andrea M. Spaeth, MA, from the Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and colleagues conducted a study involving 225 healthy adults aged 22 to 50 years at the Sleep and Chronobiology Laboratory at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Study participants were all nonsmokers whose body mass index (BMI) ranged from 19 to 30 kg/m2Â and who did not experience any irregular sleep/wake routines during the 60 days before the study.

Researchers monitored the participants for a week at home before the laboratory phase, during which they studied the participants for 12, 14, or 18 consecutive days. They randomly assigned participants to either sleep restriction (SR; n = 198) or control (n = 27). SR participants were 45% women and 59% black, with a mean age of 31.3 years and a mean BMI of 24.8 kg/m2. Control participants were 44% women and 63% black, with mean age of 31.9 years and a mean BMI of 25 kg/m2.

SR participants had 2 initial nights of 10 to 12 hours in bed, followed by 5 consecutive nights of 4 hours in bed (from 4 am to 8 am). Control participants had 10 hours in bed (from 10 pm to 8 am). During the laboratory phase, participants could not leave the laboratory and could not exercise but were permitted to watch television, read, play video or board games, and do other sedentary activities while not sleeping or during testing while sitting at a computer.

The researchers monitored calorie intake in a subset of participants (31 SR and 6 control participants). They also measured and weighed all food provided during protocol-specified meal times. However, participants were allowed to eat whenever they wanted if it did not interfere with testing. Monitors recorded all food and drink consumed and left over. They measured body weights 6 to 7 days before the laboratory phase, on admittance, and on discharge.

SR participants gained significantly more weight (0.97 ± 1.43 kg) than control participants (0.11 ± 1.85 kg), possibly because of late-night eating and eating meals with higher fat content, the researchers write. SR participants whose caloric intake was monitored gained 0.52 ± 1.60 kg compared with control participants, who lost 0.53 ± 1.16 kg.

In addition, among SR participants, men gained more than women (PÂ = .004) and blacks gained more than whites (PÂ = .003).

"Although previous epidemiological studies have suggested an association between short sleep duration and weight gain/obesity, we were surprised to observe significant weight gain during an in-laboratory study," Spaeth said in a news release.

"African Americans, who are at greater risk for obesity and more likely to be habitual short sleepers, may be more susceptible to weight gain in response to sleep restriction. Future studies should focus on identifying the behavioral and physiological mechanisms underlying this increased vulnerability."

One coauthor has received funding for serving as a consultant, as a National Institutes of Health section member, and for lecturing and is an associate editor of Sleep. One coauthor is compensated by the Associated Professional Sleep Societies for serving as editor-in-chief of Sleep. Spaeth has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

Sleep. 2013;36:981-990.Â

Abstract: http://www.journalsleep.org/ViewAbstract.aspx?pid=29022

Reference:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/807234?nlid=31945_1301&src=wnl_edit_dail&uac=135291DJ

SUMMARY:

This study found that there was significant weight gain in the participants who had lesser amount of sleep or who had shorter sleep periods than those who had 10 hours of sleep during the observation phase of the research. The participants’ food intake was also monitored but was not restricted. However, the researchers also took note of the activities that they had and was advised not to undergo exercise or any excessively strenuous activities during the course of this research.

It has also been found that men gained more weight than women and ‘black’ participants significantly gained more weight than ‘whites’ and that they have been observed to have shorter sleep periods during the research.

NURSING IMPLICATION:

In our profession, it is common knowledge that most nurses have lesser sleep periods due to rotating shifts or schedules. There are those that even have 2 jobs a day just to make ends meet. For most nurses, sleep is considered a luxury since most of us have to juggle our time between or work, our family, social life, school if at all and time for ourselves.

In order to give the best care we can to our patients, we must be physically, psychologically, emotionally and mentally fit to do our job well. Although we get exercise while carrying out the various tasks needed to render care to our patients, it is not always enough. There are still cases wherein lifestyle, combined with irregular eating habits and irregular sleep pattern have been found to be the cause of weight gain in health professionals.

\ As nurses, it is our duty to our patients and ourselves as well to be holistically fit in order to give the best care due to our patients. Therefore, to us nurses, the challenge is to manage our time as best we can and give due time to ourselves, our family, and the various activities we undergo in order to live a healthy and well-balanced life.