Van Cauter, E., & Knutson, K. L. (2008). Sleep and the epidemic of obesity in children and adults. European Journal of Endocrinology, 159(Suppl 1), S59-66.

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Abstract

Sleep is an important modulator of neuroendocrine function and glucose metabolism in children as well as in adults. In recent years, sleep curtailment has become a hallmark of modern society with both children and adults having shorter bedtimes than a few decades ago. This trend for shorter sleep duration has developed over the same time period as the dramatic increase in the prevalence of obesity. There is rapidly accumulating evidence from both laboratory and epidemiological studies to indicate that chronic partial sleep loss may increase the risk of obesity and weight gain. The present article reviews laboratory evidence indicating that sleep curtailment in young adults results in a constellation of metabolic and endocrine alterations, including decreased glucose tolerance, decreased insulin sensitivity, elevated sympathovagal balance, increased evening concentrations of cortisol, increased levels of ghrelin, decreased levels of leptin, and increased hunger and appetite. We also review cross-sectional epidemiological studies associating short sleep with increased body mass index and prospective epidemiological studies that have shown an increased risk of weight gain and obesity in children and young adults who are short sleepers. Altogether, the evidence points to a possible role of decreased sleep duration in the current epidemic of obesity.

MeSH Terms
    Adult
    Appetite
    Child
    Cross-Over Studies
    Disease Outbreaks*
    Humans
    Neurosecretory Systems/physiopathology
    Obesity/epidemiology*
    Obesity/etiology
    Prevalence
    Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
    Risk Assessment
    Sleep Deprivation/complications*
    Sleep Deprivation/metabolism
    Sleep Deprivation/physiopathology
    Time Factors
    Weight Gain/physiology
    Young Adult