Updated · Columbia University Irving Medical Center · Jul 6
Columbia Study Ties 80 Minutes Less Sleep to 1-Pound Gain in 6 Weeks
Updated
Updated · Columbia University Irving Medical Center · Jul 6
Columbia Study Ties 80 Minutes Less Sleep to 1-Pound Gain in 6 Weeks
3 articles · Updated · Columbia University Irving Medical Center · Jul 6
Summary
95 adults who cut sleep by about 80 minutes a night for six weeks gained an average of 1 pound and spent more time inactive, Columbia researchers reported in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Sedentary time rose by 17 minutes a day overall during the sleep-restriction phase, and by nearly 30 minutes for men and postmenopausal women, even after accounting for longer waking hours.
The randomized trial compared each participant's usual 7-8 hours of sleep with a six-week phase of delaying bedtime by 90 minutes, tracking weight, waist size, body composition and appetite-related hormones.
Researchers said the effect was modest over six weeks but could become clinically meaningful over a year, adding to earlier findings from the same cohort linking mild sleep loss to higher insulin resistance and heart inflammation.
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Even Mild Sleep Loss Causes Rapid Weight Gain and Inactivity: New Columbia Study Reveals Urgent Health Risks
Overview
A major Columbia University study published in July 2026 reveals that even modest, chronic sleep loss—such as reducing nightly sleep by about 80 minutes over six weeks—can quickly lead to weight gain, increased waist size, and more sedentary behavior. Unlike earlier research that focused on extreme sleep deprivation, this study shows that common, mild sleep loss has rapid and measurable effects on health. The findings highlight that losing just a little sleep each night is enough to disrupt appetite, encourage overeating, and reduce physical activity, especially in men and postmenopausal women, emphasizing the importance of adequate sleep for everyone.