Consistent exercise routines substantially reduce risks of insomnia, as well as improved sleep duration among adults, according to an extensive 10-year study, published in the BMJ Open Medical Journal.

Regular Workouts Lowers Risk of Insomnia by 42%, 10-Year Study Finds

Rabat – Consistent exercise routines substantially reduce risks of insomnia, as well as improved sleep duration among adults, according to an extensive 10-year study, published in the BMJ Open Medical Journal.

The study involved participants from 21 centers across nine European countries. Throughout the study, researchers examined the relationship between physical activity and various sleep parameters, including insomnia symptoms, nightly sleep duration, and daytime sleepiness.

After adjusting for various factors such as age, sex, weight, smoking history, and geographical location of the study center, persistently active participants were found to have a 42% reduced likelihood of experiencing difficulty falling asleep, a 22% reduced likelihood of any insomnia symptoms, and a 40% reduced likelihood of reporting multiple insomnia symptoms.

Lead researchers noted that while previous studies hinted at the benefits of physical activity on sleep quality, the specific influence of factors such as gender, age, body mass index (BMI), overall fitness, general health, and exercise type remained unclear.

To track the correlation between regularly exercising and healthy sleep patterns, the study tracked 4,399 middle-aged adults over the span of a decade, using data from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey.

Participants provided information on their physical activity levels and sleep patterns via questionnaires administered at two points in time; once at the beginning of the study (1998-2002) and again ten years later (2011-2014).

Results revealed that participants who engaged in physical activity at least two or more times a week, for at least one hour each time, were classified as being persistently active.

The study found that individuals who maintained a regular level of activity throughout the ten-year period were significantly less likely to experience insomnia symptoms compared to those who remained inactive.

The study also highlighted regional disparities in exercise habits, with participants in Norway exhibiting the highest rates of persistent activity, while those in Spain and Estonia were more likely to remain inactive.

In addition, the research indicated that persistently active individuals were more likely to be men, younger, and have a slightly lower BMI. They were also less likely to be current smokers and more likely to be employed.

Persistently active individuals were also more likely to fall within the recommended sleep duration of 6-9 hours per night and less likely to experience daytime sleepiness compared to persistently inactive individuals.