Researchers from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland Ohio have found that women who donít get enough sleep each night risk gaining weight.
In a long-term study of over 68,000 middle-aged women, those who slept 5 hours or less each night were 32 percent more likely to gain a significant amount of weight (adding 33 pounds or more) and 15 percent more likely to become obese during 16 years of follow-up compared to women who slept 7 hours each night.
Women who slept 6 hours nightly were 12 percent more likely to experience major weight gain and 6 percent more likely to become obese compared with those who slept 7 hours each night.
The researchers analyzed the diets and physical activity levels of the women, but failed to find any differences that could explain why women who slept less weighed more.
Researchers speculate that sleeping less may affect changes in a person's basal metabolic rate, therefore possibly leading to weight gain.
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