A meta-analysis in the August issue of the journal SLEEP is the first to quantify the magnitude and consistency of the relationship between insufficient sleep and waist circumference, a measure of central adiposity with demonstrated sensitivity in the prediction of health risk. The analysis of 22 international, cross-sectional studies involving 56,259 participants suggests that shorter sleep durations are associated with an increase in central adiposity. Sleep duration has been shown to influence energy homeostasis and has recently emerged as the third important lifestyle factor that can impact health and well-being, notes a commentary on the study.

Read the study in the journal SLEEP:  Sleep Duration and Waist Circumference in Adults: A Meta-Analysis

Read the editorial:  Sleep Doesn’t Waste Time, It’s Good for the Waist Line