Long Naps Could Increase Metabolic Risk by 50%

Taking long naps and excessive daytime sleepiness is associated with an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome, according to recent research.

Because nap taking is a widely prevalent practice, researchers hoped that “clarifying the relationship between naps and metabolic disease might offer a new strategy of treatment, especially as metabolic disease has been increasing steadily all over the world.”
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They conducted a meta-analysis of 21 observational studies involving 307,237 participants who completed questionnaires detailing their daytime sleepiness and napping habits. Researchers compared participants’ answers to medical records of the participants’ metabolic health.

Overall, researchers observed a J-shaped relationship between napping and metabolic risk. Participants who napped for less than 40 minutes a day had no increased risk of metabolic syndrome, while those who napped longer than 40 minutes was a sharp increase in risk.  

Those who napped for 90 minutes a day and those with excessive daytime sleepiness or more saw increases in metabolic risk by as much as 50%, although a decrease in metabolic risk was observed in those napping less than 30 minutes a day.

Researchers noted that future studies should further examine the potential beneficial effects of short naps, and the mechanisms by which long naps affect metabolic risk.

The full study will be presented on April 3, 2016 at the American College of Cardiology’s 65th Annual Scientific Session.

—Michael Potts

 Reference:

American College of Cardiology. Long naps, daytime sleepiness tied to greater risk of metabolic syndrome [press release]. Published March 21, 2016. Accessed March 23, 2016.