mortality rate than the comparison group who was the same age (<65) and sleeping 7 hours. NO ASSOCIATION was found for long (greater than 9 hours) weekend sleep when compared to the comparison group (7 hour sleeper), for this aged group. The researchers stated “the mortality rate among participants with short sleep during weekdays, but long sleep during weekends, did not differ from the rate of the reference group. Among individuals ≥65 years old, no association between weekend sleep or weekday/weekend sleep durations and mortality was observed.” Here is where I think every new outlet has missed the boat … The comparison group. They slept 7 hours, weekday and weekend, and were completely FINE!! This only further proves my point that consistent total sleep time (and clock
time, remember you want your circadian rhythms to be working well) is the best for your overall health. I was also interested in what happened to sleep in people over age 65, but unfortunately there was no data on that. The results are clear: If you stay in bed on the weekends for two hours longer than usual, you’re far more likely to be grouchy, fat and sick. If you stay in bed for less than an hour on the weekends, though, you’re statistically safe from suffering the ill effects. With that in mind, there are chronotype’s recommended for workday wake times, from my book "The Power of When", plus an extra forty-five minutes. AM: How important is it to have good sleep? DR. MB: It’s more important than food! Your body can go about 3 days without water, about 25+ days without food, and only about 7 without sleep. It is the third leg on the wellness triad along with prop-
