A recent study led by Monash University has revealed that going to bed earlier than usual can have a positive impact on physical activity levels the following day. Published in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the research focused on the association between sleep duration, sleep timing, and physical activity.
The study involved nearly 20,000 participants who wore a biometric device called WHOOP for a year, resulting in a wealth of data comprising almost six million nights. By analyzing objective sleep and physical activity metrics from the device, the researchers were able to investigate how both typical sleep habits and nightly variations in sleep affected next-day physical activity levels.
The findings showed that individuals who went to bed earlier tended to be more physically active. For example, those with a typical bedtime around 9 pm engaged in approximately 30 more minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each day compared to those who stayed up until 1 am. Even when compared to individuals with a bedtime of 11 pm, the 9 pm sleepers recorded nearly 15 additional minutes of daily physical activity.
Lead author Dr. Josh Leota emphasized that individuals with later bedtimes may face challenges in adhering to traditional work schedules, leading to social jetlag, poor sleep quality, and reduced motivation for physical activity the next day. The study also revealed that when people went to bed earlier but maintained their usual amount of sleep, they exhibited the highest levels of physical activity the following day.
Dr. Elise Facer-Childs, the senior author of the study, highlighted the significant relationship between sleep timing and physical activity. She stressed the importance of recognizing the interconnected nature of sleep and physical activity in promoting overall health and well-being. The findings were further validated in a study involving nearly 6,000 participants from the All of Us Research Program, using Fitbit data.
The researchers concluded that encouraging earlier bedtimes could naturally enhance physical activity levels and contribute to better health outcomes. By understanding how sleep timing influences physical activity, individuals and health campaigns can adopt a holistic approach to improve overall wellness. The study underscores the vital role of sleep in enabling individuals to lead more active lifestyles.
For more information on this groundbreaking research, the study can be accessed in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences under the title “Sleep duration and timing are associated with next-day physical activity: Insights from two large-scale wearable sensor studies.”doi: 10.1073/pnas.2420846122.
Provided by Monash University, this research sheds light on the powerful connection between sleep timing and physical activity, offering valuable insights for promoting health and well-being.
