← All sources
Impact of insufficient sleep on total daily energy expenditure, food intake, and weight gain
Inpatient crossover study in 16 adults finds five nights of insufficient sleep raises total daily energy expenditure by about 5% but increases ad libitum energy intake (especially after dinner) beyond needs, producing ~0.82 kg weight gain versus adequate sleep; recovery sleep normalizes intake.
Design
- Setting: 14–15 day inpatient crossover (University of Colorado)
- Participants: 16 adults
- Conditions: 5 nights insufficient sleep vs adequate sleep with controlled / ad lib phases as per protocol
Energy balance outcomes (abstract)
- Total daily energy expenditure (TDEE): insufficient sleep ↑ ~5% versus adequate sleep
- Energy intake: excess after dinner on insufficient sleep despite hormonal signals of surplus (ghrelin / leptin / PYY narrative in abstract)
- Weight: +0.82 ± 0.47 kg with insufficient sleep vs adequate (±SD)
- Recovery: switching insufficient → adequate/recovery sleep reduced intake (especially fat and carbohydrate) with −0.03 ± 0.50 kg change
Interpretation
Provides a mechanistic inpatient bridge between short sleep and positive energy balance—distinct from CBT-I insomnia trials, but relevant to sleep scheduling counselling on sleep-optimization.
Publication
Markwald RR, Melanson EL, Smith MR, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Apr 2;110(14):5695-5700. PMID 23479616.
Outcomes
- Five nights insufficient sleep increased TDEE by ~5% versus adequate sleep but increased ad libitum energy intake beyond requirements, yielding +0.82 ± 0.47 kg weight gain (inpatient crossover; n=16).
- Transition from insufficient to recovery/adequate sleep decreased energy intake (notably fats and carbohydrates) with near-neutral mean weight change (−0.03 ± 0.50 kg).