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ObjectiveSleep duration is associated with obesity and cardiometabolic disease. It is unclear, though, how these relationship differs across age groups.MethodsData from 2007 to 2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used, including respondents aged 16+ with complete data (N = 5,607). Sleep duration and age were evaluated by self-report, and body mass index (BMI) was assessed objectively. Sleep duration was evaluated continuously and categorically [very short (≤4 h), short (5-6 h), and long (≥9 h) versus average (7-8 h)]. Age was also evaluated continuously and categorically [adolescent (16-17 years), young adult (18-29 years), early middle age (30-49 years), late middle age (50-64 years), and older adult (≥65 years)].ResultsThere was a significant interaction with age for both continuous (Pinteraction = 0.014) and categorical (Pinteraction = 0.035) sleep duration. A pseudo-linear relationship was seen among the youngest respondents, with the highest BMI associated with the shortest sleepers and the lowest BMI associated with the longest sleepers. This relationship became U-shaped in middle-age, and less of a relationship was seen among the oldest respondents.ConclusionsThese findings may provide insights for clinical recommendations and could help to guide mechanistic research regarding the sleep-obesity relationship.

ObjectiveSleep duration is associated with obesity and cardiometabolic disease. It is unclear, though, how these relationship differs across age groups.MethodsData from 2007 to 2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used, including respondents aged 16+ with complete data (N = 5,607). Sleep duration and age were evaluated by self-report, and body mass index (BMI) was assessed objectively. Sleep duration was evaluated continuously and categorically [very short (≤4 h), short (5-6 h), and long (≥9 h) versus average (7-8 h)]. Age was also evaluated continuously and categorically [adolescent (16-17 years), young adult (18-29 years), early middle age (30-49 years), late middle age (50-64 years), and older adult (≥65 years)].ResultsThere was a significant interaction with age for both continuous (Pinteraction = 0.014) and categorical (Pinteraction = 0.035) sleep duration. A pseudo-linear relationship was seen among the youngest respondents, with the highest BMI associated with the shortest sleepers and the lowest BMI associated with the longest sleepers. This relationship became U-shaped in middle-age, and less of a relationship was seen among the oldest respondents.ConclusionsThese findings may provide insights for clinical recommendations and could help to guide mechanistic research regarding the sleep-obesity relationship.

Bright light in the blue-green range, administered in the early morning hours (prior to waking) may be particularly effective in shifting circadian rhythms and may increase gonadotropin production. Accordingly, we tested the feasibility and utility of a mask that emits bright blue/green light (compared to a similar mask that emitted a dim red light) towards the end of sleep in a randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study. The study included a 3-day baseline period, immediately followed by a 12-day intervention period. Subjects were 30 healthy young men with minimal-mild depression. The bright light masks were well-tolerated and demonstrated adequate safety and feasibility. Following the intervention, those who wore the bright light mask demonstrated altered sleep timing suggestive of an earlier sleep period, and excreted a slight increase in follicle-stimulating hormone. Overall, light masks may prove useful in future studies of bright light therapy.

Bright light in the blue-green range, administered in the early morning hours (prior to waking) may be particularly effective in shifting circadian rhythms and may increase gonadotropin production. Accordingly, we tested the feasibility and utility of a mask that emits bright blue/green light (compared to a similar mask that emitted a dim red light) towards the end of sleep in a randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study. The study included a 3-day baseline period, immediately followed by a 12-day intervention period. Subjects were 30 healthy young men with minimal-mild depression. The bright light masks were well-tolerated and demonstrated adequate safety and feasibility. Following the intervention, those who wore the bright light mask demonstrated altered sleep timing suggestive of an earlier sleep period, and excreted a slight increase in follicle-stimulating hormone. Overall, light masks may prove useful in future studies of bright light therapy.

Based on human and animal research, it appears that light administered in the last two hours of sleep might be particularly effective as an antidepressant and in advancing circadian rhythms. Green light might be more effective than white light. An obvious advantage of light treatment during sleep is that disturbance and time cost during waking hours might be avoided. For these reasons, we decided to explore effects of a light treatment with a green light mask used for in the last hours of sleep. Subjects were 30 adults aged 18-35 years. This protocol took take place at the subjects' homes and lasted 15 days after recruitment (3-day baseline period and 12-day intervention period). Throughout the study, participants maintained sleep and compliance diaries and wore a wrist actigraph. The study was a randomized, controlled clinical trial of a bright green light mask versus a dim red light mask. The two treatments were a bright green light and dim red light. Post-treatment interviews showed that all subjects reported some discomfort from the masks, but compliance was good overall. Symptom inventory scores did not differentiate groups, suggesting no significant differences in side effects. Mood ratings and sleep questionnaires did not differentiate groups. Sleep diaries distinguished groups, suggesting worse sleep overall in the green mask group. Actigraphy showed a significant circadian phase advance in the green light group. This suggests that the green light had a physiological effect. These findings suggest that green light masks are safe and tolerable; while the green light mask worsened perceived sleep overall, no specific factors were implicated and such complaints may simply be due to earlier awakening caused by a phase advance. Also, early morning green light presented during sleep produced a significant phase shift, suggesting that while there were no symptom benefits evidenced in this healthy sample, green light masks may be useful in clinical and research appl

Based on human and animal research, it appears that light administered in the last two hours of sleep might be particularly effective as an antidepressant and in advancing circadian rhythms. Green light might be more effective than white light. An obvious advantage of light treatment during sleep is that disturbance and time cost during waking hours might be avoided. For these reasons, we decided to explore effects of a light treatment with a green light mask used for in the last hours of sleep. Subjects were 30 adults aged 18-35 years. This protocol took take place at the subjects' homes and lasted 15 days after recruitment (3-day baseline period and 12-day intervention period). Throughout the study, participants maintained sleep and compliance diaries and wore a wrist actigraph. The study was a randomized, controlled clinical trial of a bright green light mask versus a dim red light mask. The two treatments were a bright green light and dim red light. Post-treatment interviews showed that all subjects reported some discomfort from the masks, but compliance was good overall. Symptom inventory scores did not differentiate groups, suggesting no significant differences in side effects. Mood ratings and sleep questionnaires did not differentiate groups. Sleep diaries distinguished groups, suggesting worse sleep overall in the green mask group. Actigraphy showed a significant circadian phase advance in the green light group. This suggests that the green light had a physiological effect. These findings suggest that green light masks are safe and tolerable; while the green light mask worsened perceived sleep overall, no specific factors were implicated and such complaints may simply be due to earlier awakening caused by a phase advance. Also, early morning green light presented during sleep produced a significant phase shift, suggesting that while there were no symptom benefits evidenced in this healthy sample, green light masks may be useful in clinical and research appl

Based on human and animal research, it appears that light administered in the last two hours of sleep might be particularly effective as an antidepressant and in advancing circadian rhythms. Green light might be more effective than white light. An obvious advantage of light treatment during sleep is that disturbance and time cost during waking hours might be avoided. For these reasons, we decided to explore effects of a light treatment with a green light mask used for in the last hours of sleep. Subjects were 30 adults aged 18-35 years. This protocol took take place at the subjects' homes and lasted 15 days after recruitment (3-day baseline period and 12-day intervention period). Throughout the study, participants maintained sleep and compliance diaries and wore a wrist actigraph. The study was a randomized, controlled clinical trial of a bright green light mask versus a dim red light mask. The two treatments were a bright green light and dim red light. Post-treatment interviews showed that all subjects reported some discomfort from the masks, but compliance was good overall. Symptom inventory scores did not differentiate groups, suggesting no significant differences in side effects. Mood ratings and sleep questionnaires did not differentiate groups. Sleep diaries distinguished groups, suggesting worse sleep overall in the green mask group. Actigraphy showed a significant circadian phase advance in the green light group. This suggests that the green light had a physiological effect. These findings suggest that green light masks are safe and tolerable; while the green light mask worsened perceived sleep overall, no specific factors were implicated and such complaints may simply be due to earlier awakening caused by a phase advance. Also, early morning green light presented during sleep produced a significant phase shift, suggesting that while there were no symptom benefits evidenced in this healthy sample, green light masks may be useful in clinical and research appl