Key points from article :
A new study suggests that how long you sleep each night may be an even stronger predictor of longevity than diet or exercise. Researchers analysed large-scale US survey data from 2019 to 2025 and found that regularly getting less than seven hours of sleep was closely linked to a shorter life expectancy. Strikingly, this association was stronger than those seen for poor diet or physical inactivity, and was only outweighed by smoking as a risk factor.
The research was led by sleep physiologist Andrew McHill at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and published in the journal Sleep Advances. Even after accounting for factors such as education level, employment status, and exercise habits, insufficient sleep remained a powerful indicator of reduced lifespan. While the study was observational and cannot prove cause and effect, the consistency of the findings surprised the researchers themselves.
The authors point out that sleep influences almost every system in the body, from brain function and immunity to metabolism. Chronic sleep loss is strongly linked to conditions such as obesity and diabetes, which in turn can shorten life expectancy. The good news is that sleep habits are often modifiable: reducing late-night screen use, managing stress, and prioritising rest could pay off in both daily wellbeing and long-term health. As McHill puts it, sleep deserves to be treated with the same seriousness as diet and exercise when it comes to living longer.
