Sleep Duration Modifies the Heritability of Body Mass Index

Nathaniel F. Watson, MD, MSc

Associate Professor of Neurology
Co Director of HMC Sleep Disorders Center
University of Washington
Seattle, WA

Previous research has found that short sleep duration (<7 hrs/night) is associated with elevated body mass index (BMI). The current study examined whether sleep duration modified genetic and environmental influences on BMI. Shorter sleep duration is associated with increased BMI and increased genetic influences on BMI, suggesting that shorter sleep duration may increase expression of genetic risks for high body weight. At the same time, longer sleep duration may suppress genetic influences on body weight. Future research aiming to identify specific genotypes for BMI may benefit from considering the moderating role of sleep duration.

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