Scientists are saying that sleep is just as important to a person’s health as diet and exercise.
A recent study has found that consistent lack of proper sleep may lead to obesity and type II diabetes.
According to the Trinidad Guardian, seven young men and women slept normally on four nights, and on four other nights only slept 4.5 hours.
After the four nights with limited sleep, participants’ overall resistance to insulin was found to be 16 percent lower than after the nights of sleeping eight or nine hours. Their fat cells’ sensitivity to insulin decreased by 30 percent, to the levels of diabetes or obesity.
According to the Los Angeles Times, when a healthy body takes in sugar, insulin is released from the pancreas and cells normally absorb some of that new glucose. But when the body becomes insulin-resistant, glucose levels rise in the bloodstream because they are not taken by the cells, which may lead to obesity and diabetes.
“Sleeping four to five hours a night during the work week is not uncommon,” said lead study author Dr. Matthew Brady of the University of Chicago, according to ABC News. “But our study proves they are not tolerating the metabolic consequences.”
Other studies have inked lack of sleep to gaining weight, but this is the first to show that it affected the functions of fat cells.
Elsewhere, another study has found that we may need to become one with the dolphins. Results showed that they rest only half their brain at a time and can remain alert indefinitely.
The Los Angeles Times reported that a male and a female dolphin were taught to find targets in a research pen, and bump a paddle every time they thought they found one. The female answered correctly over 90 percent of the time, and the male scored over 75 percent. And the female was tested for 15 days straight without a noticeable decline in her performance.
Test results suggested that the dolphins remain constantly alert so they could spot predators.