Sleep Duration Versus Sleep Insufficiency as Predictors of...

Introduction I chose to review the article, â€Å"Sleep Duration Versus Sleep Insufficiency as Predictors of Cardiometabolic Health Outcomes† (Altman et al., 2012). This article is particularly interesting to me because the methods and design utilized by the authors are similar to the research that I am currently involved in. I am also particularly interested in behavioral interventions for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. What is currently understood about the relationship between sleep and BMI suggests that these phenomena may have several contributing metabolic factors. During undisturbed, slow-wave sleep, energy is conserved in slower heart rate, digestion, and muscle activity and may be redirected to immune function and hormone synthesis and dispersal during slow-wave sleep (Jung, Melanson, Frydendall, Perreault, Eckel, Wright, 2010). Thus an appropriate level of quality sleep for humans is important for overa ll energy homeostasis. As many Americans face numerous metabolic disorders, especially obesity, it is important to determine the behavioral factors that contribute to these conditions. Information in this regard will aid in more evidence-based, behavioral interventions for the prevention of these diseases. Behavioral interventions will, in turn, save our health care system in treatment costs as well as reduce mortality for growing generations. The investigation of possible protective