A Sleep Habit May Have an Unexpected Link to Weight Loss

A recent study suggests that the time adults with prediabetes go to bed might play a crucial role in their weight loss efforts. Researchers from New York University and the University of Delaware discovered that going to bed earlier was linked to greater weight loss among those with prediabetes—a condition characterized by elevated blood glucose levels.

Published in the journal Nursing Research on October 22, the study found that sleep timing, rather than just sleep duration, could be a valuable factor in managing weight. Prediabetes poses a significant risk for developing type 2 diabetes, and weight management is crucial in preventing its onset. However, weight loss can be challenging for those with prediabetes or diabetes due to their bodies' already strained metabolism from insulin resistance.

Previous research has linked poor sleep, such as insufficient sleep (less than seven hours) and late bedtimes, to weight gain and higher obesity risks, primarily because of disrupted hormones that promote insulin resistance. To delve deeper into this relationship, the study included nearly 200 participants aged 21 to 64, who reported sleeping fewer than six hours per night.

The findings indicated that sleep duration did not affect blood glucose levels, but an earlier bedtime was associated with greater weight loss. The participants were divided into two groups: one participated in an eight-week lifestyle program without a sleep component, while the other followed a lifestyle program that included a sleep component.

For the sleep group, the sessions focused on sleep hygiene, making plans to go to bed earlier, and overall sleep improvement. Despite both groups achieving a modest increase in sleep duration—around 10 minutes—the early bedtimes led to significant weight loss. Each one-hour advancement in sleep onset time corresponded to an average weight loss of about 0.3 ounces per minute, equating to roughly 1.3 pounds for a one-hour earlier bedtime.

Lead author Susan Kohl Malone of New York University explained that the relationship was linear, meaning the earlier the sleep onset, the more weight lost. The researchers plan to conduct follow-up studies to determine an optimal bedtime threshold for people with prediabetes and to test the hypothesis that an earlier bedtime could lead to greater weight loss in trials.