Health
Long Naps Linked to Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome, Says New Study
Long naps during the day, also called siestas, are likely associated with obesity and high blood pressure, a new study has suggested.
The study, authored mainly by Spanish researchers, is titled “Lifestyle mediators of associations among siestas, obesity, and metabolic health” and it was published this week in the journal Obesity. The researchers studied data of 3275 adults from a Mediterranean population and looked for correlation between siestas (daytime naps) and obesity & metabolic syndrome (MetS). For specific correlation within the subjects of the study, they measured their BMI, waist circumference, fasting glucose, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure, and of MetS.
The results of their study show that compared with the no-siesta group, long siestas were associated with higher values of all the variables they measured and had a higher incidence of MetS. The study wrote:
Our data suggested that a higher number of cigarettes smoked per day, later timing of behaviors (later meals and later sleep), and higher energy intake at lunch (the meal preceding siestas), mediate this association.
The study does remind its readers that this association between long daytime naps and obesity does not conclusively establish a causal link and more research is needed to confirm the findings of this study.
Metabolic Syndrome (MetS)
Metabolic syndrome, also called insulin resistance syndrome, is defined as a group of conditions that together raise your risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and other serious health problems. In the United States, an estimated one-third of the entire adult population is believed to have MetS. Unhealthy lifestyle choices including smoking, excessive drinking (alcohol intake), overeating and junk food, and poor sleep etc. are believed to be some of the known risk factors for MetS. Generally, the risk of having MetS increases with age and women on average have a higher risk of having MetS than men.
