Going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day may have dramatic effects on body composition.
A new study found that subjects who had less than 60 minutes of variation between bedtime and waketime each day had significantly lower body fat levels compared to those who had a great degree of variation.
Additionally, subjects who slept less than 6.5 hours per night had a significantly less desirable body composition.
Conclusion
This study contributes to the growing body of research that suggests that good sleep habits are essential for a favorable body composition, as well as overall health. Alteration in sleep habits typically leads to increases in caloric intake, which makes sleep deprivation a significant contributor to obesity.
References
1 Bailey BW, et al. Objectively measured sleep patterns in young adult women and the relationship to adiposity. American Journal of Health Promotion. 2013.