Dear Dr. Prescott,
I’ve been told many times—most often by my mother—that the more I exercise, the more easily I’ll fall asleep at night. Is there any research to back this up?
Adam Cohen, Norman
In 2009, researchers asked children to wear devices that measured their movements all day. When the scientists examined the kids’ sleep patterns, they found that those who were most active during the day fell asleep fastest. For every hour children were sedentary during the day, it took them an average of three minutes longer to nod off at night. Plus, the kids who fell asleep quickly ended up sleeping longer. Studies of adults have yielded similar outcomes, with the results being most pronounced in people who have trouble sleeping.
There are great reasons to get ample shuteye. Your immune system functions better when you don’t skimp on sleep. Research has also shown that sleep deficits are associated with weight gain.
The last word The more you exercise, the better you’ll sleep. As usual, mother knows best.
