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Could sleeping in be bad for your health?

Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images

Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh found that people who wake up at unusual times, have raised levels of fat in their blood and lower levels of a compound that reduces blood sugar levels.

The study, which examined sleep patterns in a group of 447 men and women, aged 30 to 54 who worked at least 25 hours a week outside the home, is the first to associate sleep patterns with illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease.

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Each participant wore a wristband that measured movement and sleep for 24 hours a day, and completed a questionnaire about their diet and exercise habits.

"This is the first study to show that even among healthy, working adults who experience a less extreme range of mismatches in their sleep schedule, social jetlag can contribute to metabolic problems,” said lead researcher Dr. Patricia Wong.

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“Social jetlag refers to the mismatch between an individual’s biological circadian rhythm and their socially-imposed sleep schedules,”

The findings revealed that participants who had a greater disruption to their sleep schedule tended to have higher cholesterol, insulin levels, waist circumference and body-mass index.

According to Dr Wong, the results of the study suggest we need to consider as a society how work and social obligations can affect our sleep and health.