'Weighty' issues linked to sleep!

Your duration of sleep might be affecting your weight in general, for according to a new study, Body Mass Index (BMI)varies as a function of habitual sleep duration.

According to a new study, Body Mass Index (BMI) varies as a function of habitual sleep duration.

The study has been presented at SLEEP 2009, the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies.

Results indicate that twins who slept between 7 and 8.9 hours each night had a lower mean BMI (25.0 kg/m2) compared to those who regularly slept either more (25.2 kg/m2) or less (26.4 kg/m2) per night.

The relationship between sleep duration and BMI remained after controlling for genetics and shared environment.

According to the lead author of the story, Nathaniel Watson, MD, co-director at the University of Washington Sleep Institute, in Seattle, sleep habits have a significant impact on weight and BMI.

"Findings of the study point towards an environmental cause of the relationship between sleep duration and BMI," said Watson.

"Results were robust enough to be present when the sample was limited to identical twins," the expert added.

Habitual sleep duration was obtained by self-reported length of sleep per night and BMI was calculated by self-reported height and weight. Of the sample, 68.3 percent female, 88.2 per cent were Caucasian.

Results persisted in a co-twin control analysis of within twin pair differences in sleep duration and BMI.