The study, which was carried out by researchers at the Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, involved an examination of just over 500 diabetes patients. The study’s participants were separated into three groups depending on the nature of their treatment, with one group focused on a traditional approach, another involved in more intense physical activity, and the other focused on diet changes. All participants were then asked to monitor their sleep schedules.
In the end, researchers discovered that those people who didn’t get the recommended amount of sleep each night were 72 percent more likely to be obese than those who showed they did sleep enough each evening. Importantly, the study showed that consistently losing just 30 minutes of sleep each night increased one’s risk of becoming obese by 17 percent, while increasing their chances of developing diabetes by an incredible 39 per cent.
The study’s lead author, professor Shahrad Taheri, says the study reinforces previous findings about the link between sleep and physical health. “While previous studies have shown that short sleep duration is associated with obesity and diabetes, we found that as little as 30 minutes a day sleep debt can have significant effects on obesity and insulin resistance at follow-up,” Taheri said.
