A little known fact: short sleep duration has been recognized as a risk factor for obesity. A study conducted in February of 2022 found that for anyone who sleeps less than seven hour a night, adding an extra hour of sleep per night can lead to a gradual weight loss of roughly a pound a week. The study was published in JAMA internal medicine and made use of a randomized clinical trial for six years. After a 2-week baseline, participants who were found to be overweight and sleeping less than 6.5 hours a night were randomized into either a counseling session intended to extend their bedtime to 8.5 hours or a control group that continued their regular sleep habits. The primary outcome was seen to be a significant decrease in energy intake in the sleep extension group. This finding might prove extremely relevant in obesity prevention and weight loss programs. We’ll have to see how it plays out. Read the full details of the study here.