Sleep vs. Exercise: New Study Questions Common Recommendations

A new global study suggests that sleep may be more beneficial for overall health than physical exercise, as most people struggle to meet the recommended levels of both rest and physical activity.

The study, published in Communications Medicine, found that the majority of people fall short of widely promoted targets—seven to nine hours of sleep and at least 8,000 steps per day.

Researchers analyzed data from more than 70,000 participants worldwide over 3.5 years, using information from sleep and activity trackers. The results were concerning:

• 13% of people meet both targets—sleep and steps.

• 17% sleep less than seven hours and walk fewer than 5,000 steps per day, placing them in the “inactive” category.

Lack of sleep is directly linked to an increased risk of chronic diseases, weight gain, and mental health problems. The study has some limitations; for example, it relies on data from personal tracking devices, which are more commonly used in wealthier countries, Euronews reports.

Josh Fitton, the study’s lead author and a sleep health specialist at Flinders University in Australia, noted: “Only a small proportion of people are able to reach the recommended levels of sleep and activity on a daily basis. We need to think about how these recommendations work together and what we can do to help people meet them in real life.”

In a statement, Fitton added that the findings challenge conventional public health recommendations, highlighting how difficult it is for many people to maintain both an active lifestyle and a healthy sleep routine.

The study also revealed an interesting pattern: six to seven hours of sleep are associated with the highest number of steps taken the following day. This supports the hypothesis that rest is key to an active lifestyle.

Other research also points to a close physiological link between sleep and physical activity. For example, a 2024 review in Frontiers in Physiology notes that regular exercise improves sleep quality, while insufficient sleep reduces the effectiveness of workouts.

According to the researchers, if people are short on time, they should prioritize sleep over exercise.

Co-author of the study and Flinders University professor Danny Eckert added: “Prioritizing sleep may be the most effective way to boost energy, motivation, and the capacity for movement. Simple changes, such as reducing screen time before bed, keeping a consistent bedtime, and creating a calm sleep environment, can make a significant difference.”

Follow NEWS.am Medicine on Facebook and Twitter