Weight Gain May Result from Poor Sleep

Previously, several studies have found that sleep-deprived children and adults are more likely to be overweight than those who are able to achieve a restful night of sleep.  Peppi Lyytikainen, from the University of Helsinki (Finland), and colleagues studied 7,332 men and women, ages 60 and over, for seven years.  After adjusting for confounding factors, the team found that approximately one-third of women with frequent sleep problems gained at least 11 pounds, but waking up tired was unassociated with weight gain.  Sleep problems in men were not found to contribute to weight gain. Noting that: “Sleep problems likely contribute to weight gain,” the researchers urge that: “To prevent major weight gain and obesity, sleep problems need to be taken into account.”