Global Study Highlights Sleep as Key to Health Over Exercise
A global study published in Communications Medicine suggests that sleep may be more crucial than exercise for overall health. Conducted by researchers at Flinders University, the study analyzed data from sleep and activity trackers over 3.5 years, involving more than 70,000 participants worldwide. The findings reveal that while many individuals either get enough sleep or lead active lives, only a small fraction manage to achieve both. Nearly 17% of participants fell into the 'sedentary' category, averaging less than seven hours of sleep and under 5,000 steps per day, which is associated with higher risks of chronic diseases. The study emphasizes the difficulty of maintaining both an active lifestyle and healthy sleep patterns, suggesting that prioritizing sleep could be more beneficial for boosting energy and motivation.