How Circadian Disruption Can Cause Obesity
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Regular readers of these pages should be well aware of the mounting evidence that points to lack of sleep as an important driver of the obesity epidemic. Not only does lack of sleep increase cravings for “junk” foods, reduce energy levels and physical activity, but it also negatively affects metabolism.
In addition, it now seems that simply disrupting the natural (24-h) circadian rhythm and sleep-wake cycle (as seen in shift workers, young parents, and people who frequently travel across time zones) may also promote weight gain.
This phenomenon was now carefully examined by Ilia Karatsoreos and colleagues from Rockefeller University, NY, in a paper just published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (USA).
As the authors point out:
“Over the past 100 y, especially with the advent of electric lighting, modern society has resulted in a round-the-clock lifestyle, in which natural connections between rest/activity cycles and environmental light/dark cycles have been degraded or even broken.”
To examine the effects of this disruption of circadian rhythm in mammals, the researchers exposed healthy mice to 20-h light/dark cycles, incongruous with their endogenous ∼24-h circadian period.
Over time, this disruption of circadian rhythm resulted in accelerated weight gain and obesity, as well as changes in metabolic hormones.
In addition, the researchers found marked in changes in the brains of these animals including loss of dendritic length and decreased complexity of neurons in brain regions important for complex executive functions and emotional control.
Consistent with these changes in brain architecture, disrupted animals showed decreased cognitive flexibility and changes in emotionality in experiments designed to test these functions.
These findings certainly support the notion that chronically disrupting the natural (24-h) circadian rhythm in mammals can lead to substantial changes in behaviour and alterations in metabolism that would promote weight gain.
Certainly further reason to make a careful evaluation of sleep history an essential part of any clinical assessment for weight gain and obesity.
AMS
Edmonton, Alberta
Karatsoreos IN, Bhagat S, Bloss EB, Morrison JH, & McEwen BS (2011). Disruption of circadian clocks has ramifications for metabolism, brain, and behavior. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America PMID: 21220317
Thursday, January 13, 2011
I can certainly vouch for this. Recently my sleep wake cycle was changed and I definitely noticed its effect on my quest to lose weight.
Any ideas on how to deal with this?
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Hi there,
In regards to the effects of disruption of the circadian rhythm, I’m assuming the same would be true for sleep apnea.
This prompted me to do a little googling and found this interesting article Sleep and Weight Gain dated November 18, 2010. This is research done in Japan. http://www.healthtree.com/articles/sleep-disorders/effects/weight-gain/
From this article, it sure looks like proper sleep, not too much and not too little, is another part of the equation that needs to get sorted out in lifestyle habits of those working on losing weight.
Thanks,
Rosemary Dinsdale
Monday, January 17, 2011
Disruption of the circadian rythm with weight gain is a hallmark of Cushing’s Syndrome: long-term exposure to excess levels of Cortisol. Cushing’s can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, muscle weakness, memory difficulties, and much more. While this illness has been considered rare, recent studies are proving that it may actually be fairly common, but is only rarely diagnosed. Left untreated, Cushing’s Syndrome is fatal–usually by way of heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure.
Friday, January 21, 2011
To Lorraine T,
My friend Marta Garaulet, who directs weight loss clinics in Spain and who is a leader in studying circadian rhythm and obesity, would likely say that you should be part of a group. Those with the “wrong” chronotype need more counseling or group therapy to keep at the weight-loss regimen. See “The chronobiology, etiology and pathophysiology of obesity.” Garaulet M, Ordovás JM, Madrid JA. in Int J Obes (Lond). 2010 34:1667-83, or visit http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20567242.