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Sleep and obesity

The link between short sleep duration and obesity: we should recommend more sleep to prevent obesity

S Taheri

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
S Taheri
Henry Wellcome LINE, Dorothy Hodgkin Building, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; S.Taheri@bris.ac.uk

Accepted 17 July 2006

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Sleep may affect energy balance. Sleep may not be the only answer to the obesity pandemic, but its effect should be considered seriously, as even small changes in the energy balance are beneficial. Good sleep could be part of the obesity prevention approach.

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The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

We are currently facing a major obesity pandemic. Most alarming is the accelerated increase in overweight and obesity in children, with childhood obesity tracking into adulthood. Although there is a strong genetic contribution to obesity, the current pandemic has been driven by environmental factors. Unfortunately, interventions aiming to alter food selection (eg, less fat and sugar) and calorie intake (eg, smaller portions) and to increase physical activity have not been able to result in long-term weight loss and maintenance. These approaches are confounded by the fact that only an insignificant daily energy surplus could result in obesity over time. Although changes in the basic balance between energy intake (food calories) and expenditure (physical activity) are obviously responsible for the current obesity pandemic, our understanding of the factors that alter this balance remains incomplete. Intriguingly, sleep may be a factor that alters both sides of the energy balance . . . [Full text of this article]

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