NEP Research Seminar

Everyone is invited to join the presentation by Dr. Kristin Hoddy, PhD, RD, who will present a seminar on “Novel approaches to weight loss: Could sleep be the missing link?”  Dr. Hoddy is an NEP faculty candidate.

Accumulating evidence shows that mild weight loss of 3-5% may attenuate consequences of obesity. Calorie restriction, a reduction of daily energy intake by 20-40%, is a common approach. Unfortunately, societal constraints pose barriers to success. Optimization of dietary approaches may provide a solution. For example, alternate day fasting, involving a 75% calorie restriction every other day, has been shown to be just as effective as daily dieting. Emerging research indicates that time restricted feeding, the practice of eating within a shortened window of time, has a mild weight loss effect as well. Furthermore, combined sleep and diet interventions are a promising option to address obesity. Current evidence supports a strong relationship between insufficient sleep and an increased risk for obesity. Shortened sleep may also hinder weight loss efforts while extending sleep has been shown to improve appetite. Reciprocally, little is known about how diet influences sleep. Limited evidence suggests macronutrient composition may effect sleep quality and dieters often report improved sleep with weight loss. At this time, not enough is known to inform combined diet and sleep recommendations. This seminar will review modern approaches to successful weight loss and discuss new directions encompassing sleep and diet synergistically.