Sleeping less than six hours or more than ten hours a night can have negative effects on your health. This, according to a new and major study from the Seoul National University College of Medicine in South Korea.

Over 133,000 Koreans between the ages of 40 and 69 years participated in the study. The researchers studied the length and its relationship to sleep associated with metabolic syndrome such as high blood pressure, abdominal fat or elevated sugar levels.

The research results are in line with what has been seen earlier, the study showed that both men and women are negatively affected by sleeping less than six hours per night, or more than ten hours.

On the other hand, men seemed to be affected more by the loss of sleep, while women had more health problems of sleeping too much. Men who slept fewer than six hours were more likely to have metabolic syndrome and a larger waist circumference. Women who slept fewer than six hours were also more likely to have a larger waist circumference.

Sleeping more than 10 hours per day was associated with metabolic syndrome and increased levels of triglycerides (a type of fat that the body converts excess calories into), in men. It was associated with metabolic syndrome, larger waist circumference, higher levels of triglycerides and blood sugar as well as low levels of ‘good’ cholesterol (HDL-C) in women.

The researchers found that nearly 11% of men and 13% of women slept less than six hours, while 1.5% of men and 1.7% of women slept more than 10 hours.

Reference:

Claire E. et al., Association between sleep duration and metabolic syndrome: a cross-sectional study, published June 13, 2018 in BMC Public Health