Research shows getting 7+ hours of sleep is more important to health than diet and exercise.
Research shows getting 7+ hours of sleep is more important to health than diet and exercise.
Using a large national database, researchers linked county-level life expectancy data with detailed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey responses from 2019 to 2025.
They found that adults who regularly obtained at least seven hours of sleep per night—a threshold aligned with recommendations from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society—tended to live longer than those who slept less. The association between sufficient sleep and longer life was consistent across most U.S. states and over multiple years.
The study did not pinpoint exactly why inadequate sleep appears to shorten lifespan, but the authors note that sleep has well-established effects on cardiovascular health, immune function, and brain health. The strength of the correlation surprised even sleep specialists, reinforcing the idea that sleep should be treated as a core pillar of health rather than an optional luxury. The researchers argue that public health efforts and personal habits should prioritize sleep on the same level as nutrition and physical activity, emphasizing that consistently getting seven to nine hours of sleep can not only improve day-to-day well-being, but may also meaningfully extend life expectancy.
ReferencesMcAuliffe, K. E., Wary, M. R., Pleas, G. V., Pugmire, K. E. S., Lysiak, C., Dieckmann, N. F., Shafer, B. M., & McHill, A. W. (2025). Sleep insufficiency and life expectancy at the state-county level in the United States, 2019–2025. SLEEP Advances.Oregon Health & Science University. (2025, December 31). Sleep may matter more than diet or exercise for how long you live. SciTechDaily.
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