The influence of sleep health on dietary intake: a systematic review and meta-analysis of intervention studies.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and meta-analysis of intervention studies
PubMed 33001515 · doi:10.1111/jhn.12813
What was done
A systematic review and meta-analysis of adult intervention studies (published 1970–2019) evaluating the effect of sleep manipulation on dietary intake. From 54 full texts assessed across five databases, 24 publications were included (23 modifying sleep duration, 1 modifying sleep timing), and 15 studies were meta-analysed after risk-of-bias appraisal.
What was found
Partial sleep restriction (defined as 5.5 hours per night or less) significantly increased total energy intake compared to control (SMD = 0.37, 95% CI 0.21–0.52, P < 0.001), representing a mean difference of 204 kcal/day (95% CI 112–295, P < 0.001). Partial sleep restriction also increased intake across all macronutrients: percentage of energy from fat (SMD = 0.33, 95% CI 0.16–0.51, P < 0.001), protein (SMD = 0.30, 95% CI 0.12–0.47, P = 0.001), and carbohydrate (SMD = 0.22, 95% CI 0.04–0.39, P = 0.014).
Why it matters
These findings provide quantitative evidence that acute sleep deprivation causally drives surplus caloric intake across all major macronutrients, supporting sleep optimization as an important component in energy balance and weight management.
Limits
The literature is heavily skewed toward short-term acute sleep duration restriction; only two studies examined sleep extension and only one examined sleep timing. Overall participant sample size, demographics, and intervention durations are not specified in the abstract, and whether these acute dietary increases persist under chronic real-world conditions remains unaddressed.
Cited by
- supports Sleep-restricted individuals consume approximately 300 more calories per day during ad libitum feeding compared to when they receive adequate sleep.
- supports A meta-analysis demonstrates that sleep restriction causes people to overeat between 250 and 400 calories per day.