Many people assume that eating nutritious food and exercising regularly are all it takes to maintain a healthy weight. But what if the missing piece isn't your diet or workout routine at all? According to Hyderabad-based neurologist Dr Sudhir Kumar, getting enough sleep could be just as important. Citing findings from a recent randomised trial, the doctor explained how even a modest reduction in nightly sleep may contribute to weight gain, a larger waistline and a less active lifestyle.

Dr Sudhir Kumar recently took to X to highlight the findings of the study titled Prolonged Short Sleep and Its Effect on Body Weight and Composition: A Pooled Analysis of Randomised Trials. According to the research, cutting sleep by around 80 minutes every night for six weeks resulted in an average weight gain of 0.45 kg, an increase in waist circumference and more time spent being sedentary.

The study found that participants who slept less did not use their additional waking hours to become more active. Instead, they spent about 17.2 extra minutes each day being sedentary. Researchers also observed increases in whole-body volume and leptin levels among those with reduced sleep.


Dr Sudhir Kumar noted that these findings are consistent with a larger body of research linking chronic sleep deprivation to increased appetite, higher calorie intake, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease and stroke.

The neurologist pointed out that many people view weight management as depending only on two factors: a healthy diet and regular exercise. However, he stressed that adequate sleep should be considered the third essential pillar of maintaining a healthy weight.


For those struggling to lose weight despite following a balanced diet and exercising consistently, Dr Sudhir Kumar advised paying closer attention to sleep habits. He recommended that most adults aim for seven to nine hours of good-quality sleep every night, adding that sufficient sleep is one of the best investments a person can make for metabolism, heart health, brain function and overall well-being.

According to the study, average sleep duration was reduced by 78.4 minutes per night in the sleep-restricted group compared with those who had adequate sleep. Along with gaining an average of 0.45 kg, participants also experienced a 0.52 cm increase in waist circumference, reinforcing the role that healthy sleep patterns may play in long-term weight management.