[cougarnurse]

I thought this took the cake: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080507/ap_on_he_me/sleep_obesity;_ylt=AthORSx5HoK4cRkO7aqa4Qis0NUE
ATLANTA - People who sleep fewer than six hours a night — or more than nine — are more likely to be obese, according to a new government study that is one of the largest to show a link between irregular sleep and big bellies.
The study also linked light sleepers to higher smoking rates, less physical activity and more alcohol use.
The research adds weight to a stream of studies that have found obesity and other health problems in those who don't get proper shuteye, said Dr. Ron Kramer, a Colorado physician and a spokesman for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
"The data is all coming together that short sleepers and long sleepers don't do so well," Kramer said.
Such surveys can't prove cause-effect relationships, so — for example — it's not clear if smoking causes sleeplessness or if sleeplessness prompts smoking, said Charlotte Schoenborn, the study's lead author.
It also did not account for the influence of other factors, such as depression, which can contribute to heavy eating, smoking, sleeplessness and other problems.
Smoking was highest for people who got under six hours of sleep, with 31 percent saying they were current smokers. Those who got nine or more hours also were big puffers, with 26 percent smoking.
Results were similar, though a bit less dramatic, for obesity: About 33 percent of those who slept less than six hours were obese, and 26 percent for those who got nine or more. Normal sleepers were the thinnest group, with obesity at 22 percent.
For alcohol use, those who slept the least were the biggest drinkers. However, alcohol use for those who slept seven to eight hours and those who slept nine hours or more was similar.
In another measure, nearly half of those who slept nine hours or more each night were physically inactive in their leisure time, which was worse even than the lightest sleepers and the proper sleepers. Many of those who sleep nine hours or more may have serious health problems that make exercise difficult.
Many elderly people are in the group who get the least sleep, which would help explain why physical activity rates are low. Those skimpy sleepers who are younger may still feel too tired to exercise, experts said.
Stress or psychological problems may explain what's going on with some of the lighter sleepers, experts said.
Other studies have found inadequate sleep is tied to appetite-influencing hormone imbalances and a higher incidence of diabetes and high blood pressure, noted James Gangwisch, a respected Columbia University sleep researcher.
"We're getting to the point that they may start recommending getting enough sleep as a standard approach to weight loss and the prevention of obesity," said Gangwisch, who was not involved in the study.
Of course, the 'cure' for sleeplesness would be sleep aids, right?
Any thoughts or comments, anyone?

[cassioo]

makes sense to me when you are awake more you have more hours left over to eat you also have more left to exercise but you're so tired from not sleeping how can you exercise so might as well eat .

I read that article to my DH this morning from the paper.

[katyv]

Interesting. I agree that it just gives us more hours to eat
Now I have a new reason to be overweight. Guess I will have to "sleep" on this data to know what to think.

[GooeyRN]

It makes sense to me. If you are awake long intervals and tired, you will be craving sugar for energy. Drink some coke, eat some junk, etc. I am guilty of that as a night shifter who then has kids to care for during the day.

[MICU-RN]

It is food for thought. See the underlying message, but, I eat half asleep. Anyone have chocolate to spare?

[cougarnurse]

Give me chocolate, and nobody gets hurt! (I should have some stashed somewhere here......)

[MICU-RN]

Ohhhh, I take some, please! Hehehe......yummmy!

[katyv]

Not sharing ANY chocolate today!!! I need every bit. It has been a really long week, and it is only Tuesday!

[cougarnurse]

I do NOT give up my stash in any way or form; guess it's the former 11-7'er in me.....