Sleep Extension Improves Sleep Health but Not Insulin Sensitivity in People With Overweight or Obesity Who Maintain Habitual Short Sleep Schedules.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether extending sleep improves insulin sensitivity in people with overweight or obesity, insulin resistance, and habitual short sleep schedules (<7 h/night).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND

METHODS

Participants were randomized to habitual sleep (HS) (n = 15) or extended sleep (ES) (n = 14) for ∼6 weeks. Multiorgan (whole-body [primarily muscle], hepatic, and adipose tissue) insulin sensitivity (assessed by the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp procedure with tracer infusions) and glycemic control (assessed by 24-h serial plasma glucose and insulin concentrations during wakefulness) were determined.

RESULTS

Time in bed and sleep duration increased more in the ES group (1.3 ± 0.6 and 1.1 ± 0.5 h/night) than in the HS group (0.3 ± 0.8 and 0.0 ± 0.4 h/night). Day-to-day variability in sleep and subjective measures of sleep health improved more in the ES than HS group, without differences in multiorgan insulin sensitivity or glycemic control between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Extending sleep by ∼1 h/night for ∼6 weeks in people with overweight or obesity and short sleep schedules improves sleep health but not insulin sensitivity or glycemic control.