Short Sleep Linked to Body Mass, Waist Size

October 17, 2017   |   Evidence in Integrative Healthcare

An August 2017 Medscape article linked short sleep to larger waist size, increased body mass index, increased hunger, and increased food intake. This is significant when obesity is tied to increased risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis-related disability and some cancers, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

Dr. Samuel Klein, director of Center for Human Nutrition at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis recommends two bits of advice for patients: Get more sleep for the hours spent in bed and increase the time allocated for sleeping. Keep the room cool and dark, do not spend a lot of time in bright light or in front of the TV, before bed.