2024-09-08 00:48:07
According to a study published in ‘The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism’, changes in the sleep cycle can have negative consequences for people who are overweight.
New research from the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) reveals poor health outcomes for overweight people who ignore their body’s cues to sleep at night, including specific differences between men and women, as published in ‘The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism’.
The study recruited 30 people, evenly divided between men and women, who were generally healthy. All of them have a body mass index greater than 25, putting them in the overweight or obese category.
They provided a saliva sample every 30 minutes into the night at the OHSU sleep lab to determine when their bodies naturally began producing melatonin. This hormone is the factor that initiates the process of falling asleep and its onset varies according to the internal clock of the individual body, as determined.
The participants then returned home and recorded their sleep habits for the next seven days.
The researchers examined the time difference between the start of melatonin production and the total sleep time of each participant, dividing them into two groups: those with a narrow time window, with a short time between the start of melatonin and sleep, and those with a wide time window, with a longer time between the onset of melatonin and sleep.
A narrow time window suggests that someone is waiting too long for their internal clock and is associated with worse health outcomes. As confirmed by the study, in the group that went closer to the beginning of the effects of melatonin in the potential harm to their health.
“Obesity and cardiometabolic diseases are growing public health problems”warned the first author, Brooke Shaferwhat does it mean postdoctoral researcher in Sleep, Chronobiology and Health Sciences of the OHSU College of Nursing. “Our research shows that changes in the body’s internal clock may contribute to poor health outcomes for people who may already be suffering from obesity.”he explained.
There are also differences between men and women. Men in this group have higher levels of fat and triglycerides in the blood, and higher risk scores for metabolic syndrome than men who sleep well. Women in this group had a higher overall body fat percentage, glucose, and resting heart rate.
“It’s really surprising to see that these differences occur in a sex-dependent manner”has been demonstrated first author, Andrew McHillWHO organization associate professor at OHSU School of Nursing, School of Medicine, and Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences at OHSU. “There is no one-size-fits-all solution, as we sometimes think in academic medicine”he insisted.
For his part, Shafer has highlighted the importance of good sleep habits, as demonstrated in this study. Good practices include going to bed when you are tired or turning away from the screen at night, which can help promote good overall health.
The next phase of the research will determine sex-specific differences in groups that experience more drastic changes in sleep patterns, such as workers working night shifts. “We want to discover possible interventions that keep a significant group of workers healthy”indicates the OHSU researcher. MTT/ LDB
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