A new study published this week revealed one way people can modify their sleep habits to increase physical activity.
Why It Matters
The study from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, is significant for anyone seeking science-backed strategies for improving their physical health. Sleep habits have long been linked to fitness and well-being, but the new study uncovered how the time a person goes to sleep could affect their activity levels the next day.
What To Know
The study, authored by Dr. Josh Leota of Monash University’s School of Psychological Sciences, found that the timing of sleep, not just its duration, can affect a person’s next-day exercise output.
As part of the study, nearly 20,000 participants wore a validated biometric device for one year to track sleep duration, timing and quality, measured against their next-day physical activity levels.
It found that people who went to bed earlier were more physically active than those who went to bed later. Those who went to bed at about 9 p.m. had about 30 minutes more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each day compared to those who stayed up until 1 a.m.
Those who went to bed at about 11 p.m. averaged about 15 minutes more exercise than those who went to bed later, according to the study.
“Standard 9-to-5 routines can clash with the natural sleep preferences of evening types, leading to social jetlag, poorer sleep quality, and increased daytime sleepiness – which can all reduce motivation and opportunity for physical activity the next day,” Dr Leota said in a press release about the findings of the study.
While the study shows a correlation between an earlier bedtime and increased physical activity, it did not investigate the factors that may be causing this relationship.
What People Are Saying
Dr. Josh Leota, in a press release: “These insights carry meaningful implications for public health. Rather than just promoting sleep and physical activity independently, health campaigns could encourage earlier bedtimes to naturally foster more active lifestyles. A holistic approach that recognizes how these two essential behaviors interact may lead to better outcomes for individual and community health.”
Dr. Elise Facer-Childs, from the Monash University School of Psychological Science, in the press release: “Our findings are consistent across different populations, and show that if you can get to sleep earlier than usual whilst keeping your sleep duration the same, you may be more likely to increase your physical activity the following day.”
What Happens Next
The study suggests that moving forward, public health messaging may consider the relationship between sleep and physical activity by “developing comprehensive and holistic recommendations that promote both health behaviors in ways that are effective and mutually beneficial.”
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