Scientists talked about the effect of sleep on physical activity

Getting a good night's sleep and staying physically active are essential health conditions, but new research shows that most people find it difficult to do both, and it's sleep that can help them be more active. This was reported on December 8 in the journal Medical Xpress.

The researchers analyzed data from more than 70,000 people worldwide, collected over three and a half years from sleep and step monitoring devices. The results showed that less than 13% of the participants regularly followed the recommendations for 7-9 hours of sleep and a minimum of 8,000 steps per day. At the same time, almost 17% slept less than 7 hours and walked less than 5,000 steps, a combination associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases, excess weight and mental health problems.

"We found that a good quality sleep sets the tone for a more active day," said Josh Fitton, lead author from Flinders University.

The study showed that sleep duration of about 6-7 hours is associated with the highest number of steps the next day. At the same time, increased activity during the day had little effect on the quality of sleep at night. Scientists emphasize that it is important to review current health recommendations.

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"It's difficult to get enough sleep and be physically active in real life at the same time, so sleep may be the first step towards health," added Professor Eckert.

He advises simple measures: reducing screen time before bedtime, a regular routine and a calm environment in the bedroom.

According to the researchers, sleep is not just a passive recovery, but an active factor that directly affects the ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Earlier, on November 27, Anna Oderiy, an endocrinologist at the SM Clinic, pointed out the negative consequences of the habit of postponing the alarm clock. According to her, this action disrupts the morning rhythms in the body and worsens well-being. The specialist clarified that after falling asleep again, the brain stops understanding at what point it needs to finally turn on, and instead of a wake-up signal, it receives a series of short "false starts."

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