Many people focus on eating well and staying active, but a growing body of research suggests there's a third pillar of good health that deserves equal attention: sleep. A new analysis found that losing just 80 minutes of sleep each night for six weeks was associated with weight gain, a larger waist circumference and less physical activity, even though participants had more waking hours.
The findings add to decades of research showing that chronic sleep deprivation can disrupt metabolism in multiple ways. Too little sleep has been linked to increased appetite, insulin resistance, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Researchers also found that participants who slept less didn't use their extra waking hours to move more — instead, they became more sedentary, creating another obstacle to maintaining a healthy weight.
Dr. Mercola has long emphasized that quality sleep is just as important as nutrition and exercise when it comes to long-term health. Prioritizing seven to nine hours of restorative sleep each night helps support healthy metabolism, hormone balance, brain function and cardiovascular health. If you're eating well and staying active but still struggling to reach your health goals, your sleep habits may be one of the first places worth looking.
SOURCE:
Hindustan Times, July 12, 2026