Role of sleep and circadian disruption on energy expenditure and in metabolic predisposition to human obesity and metabolic disease

Abstract

Weight gain, obesity and diabetes have reached alarming levels in the developed world. Traditional risk factors such as over-eating, poor nutritional choices and lack of exercise cannot fully account for the high prevalence of metabolic disease. This review paper examines the scientific evidence on two novel risk factors that contribute to dys-regulated metabolic physiology: sleep disruption and circadian misalignment. Specifically, fundamental relationships between energy metabolism and sleep and circadian rhythms and the impact of sleep and circadian disruption on metabolic physiology are examined. Millions of individuals worldwide do not obtain sufficient sleep for healthy metabolic function, and many participate in shift work and social activities at times when the internal physiological clock is promoting sleep. These behaviours predispose an individual for poor metabolic health by promoting excess caloric intake in response to reduced sleep, food intake at internal biological times when metabolic physiology is not prepared, decreased energy expenditure when wakefulness and sleep are initiated at incorrect internal biological times, and disrupted glucose metabolism during short sleep and circadian misalignment. In addition to the traditional risk factors of poor diet and exercise, disturbed sleep and circadian rhythms represent modifiable risk factors for prevention and treatment of metabolic disease and for promotion of healthy metabolism.

Weight loss and lifestyle interventions for obstructive sleep apnoea in adults: Systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…This prevalence is even greater in the elderly and in those who are overweight; a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m 2 being the attributable cause of OSA in at least 41% of the patients . Sleep restriction and fragmentation produced in OSA, in turn, are risk factors for weight gain and metabolic syndromes, so there is a reciprocal relationship between OSA and obesity. Thus, patients with high‐risk of OSA may be middle‐aged men with obesity and a sedentary lifestyle, who exhibit adverse health behaviours such as tobacco and/or alcohol consumption …”

Sleep Quality and Chronotype Differences between Elite Athletes and Non-Athlete Controls

“…Insufficient sleep has been shown to cause metabolic deficiencies [1,2], reduce muscle strength [3], shorten time to exhaustion during exercise [4], alter perceived exertion during exercise [5,6], and increase lapses of attention and reaction times [7,8]. All these effects can be detrimental to athletic performance and underline the importance of elite athletes obtaining sufficient sleep.…”

Consequences of Circadian Disruption in Shift Workers on Chrononutrition and their Psychosocial Well-Being

“…The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus acts as the master clock, synchronizing 24 h rhythms in physiological behavior in the body, inclusive of other brain regions and peripheral tissues. When aligned accordingly to the environment, the clock stimulates sleep and related anabolic functions at night, such as immune function and hormone release, and wakefulness and its associated catabolic functions during the day, i.e., food intake and metabolism, physical activity [30,31]. In addition, the endogenous melatonin rhythm that is controlled by the SCN clock often demarcates the internal biological day and night.…”