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A sleep habit may have an unexpected link to weight loss
Newsweek • • health
Key Points:
- A recent study by New York University and the University of Delaware found that earlier bedtimes are linked to greater weight loss in adults with prediabetes, suggesting sleep timing may be a key factor in weight management beyond sleep duration.
- The study involved nearly 200 participants sleeping fewer than six hours per night, who were split into groups receiving lifestyle interventions with or without a sleep component; those who shifted their bedtime earlier lost more weight regardless of group.
- Researchers propose that earlier bedtimes may reduce late-night eating and align food intake with the body's optimal metabolic window, as insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance decline at night.
- While the study highlights the potential benefits of earlier sleep onset, experts caution that sleep duration remains important, recommending adherence to current guidelines for adequate sleep alongside efforts to advance bedtime.
- The research team plans follow-up studies to identify optimal bedtimes for weight loss in prediabetes and to further test the impact of sleep timing on metabolic health.
