Sleep Expert Breaks Down Social Media Sleep Trends

During ‘Fox & Friends’ Wellness Week, Dr. Rebecca Robbins, a sleep expert, discussed various popular sleep trends. These included melatonin, mouth taping, cooling pillows, and sleep trackers. She explained that melatonin plays a crucial role in regulating circadian rhythms. Furthermore, mouth taping can promote nasal breathing, and a sleep environment maintained at 65 degrees Fahrenheit is important.

Robbins recommended that adults aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night to support optimal health and longevity.

A new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine highlighted the relationship between sleep duration and weight gain. According to the research, regularly reducing sleep by about 90 minutes each night for six weeks led to an average weight gain of one pound. This study was conducted by researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and included 95 adults already at risk for heart or metabolic diseases. Their findings compared six weeks of adequate sleep with six weeks of sleep reduction.

By the end of the sleep-restricted period, participants gained about one pound on average. They also had slightly larger waistlines. Additionally, the participants spent more time sitting, although their levels of moderate and vigorous exercise remained steady. The study did not detect significant changes in body fat or muscle mass nor did it track dietary intake, which leaves the reasons for weight gain unclear.

Dr. Somi Javaid, an Ohio-based OB-GYN and founder of HerMD, emphasized the importance of sleep in regulating metabolism. She noted that chronic sleep deprivation can disrupt the body’s ability to manage weight. Javaid pointed out that women going through menopause might be more susceptible since sleep issues often become more prevalent during this time.

“We are destroying women’s sleep at the exact life stage when their metabolism is least able to absorb the hit, then telling them to eat less and exercise more,” Javaid stated.

The American Heart Association now includes sleep in “Life’s Essential 8” for heart health. They recommend adults obtain seven to nine hours of sleep each night.

Javaid stated that chronic sleep deprivation is not merely a lifestyle choice. “We need to treat sleep as a vital sign of health,” she added.

The study concluded that consistent sleep shortages might contribute to weight gain. However, researchers acknowledged several limitations. The study duration may not have been enough to detect changes in body fat, and the small sample size limited comparative analysis among different participant groups. Additionally, hormone measurements were primarily taken in the morning, which may not capture daily fluctuations.

Kelly McGreal, a production assistant with Fox News Digital’s lifestyle team, contributed to this coverage.