Sleep and circadian rhythms. Presented by Dr Sarah Jay, PhD
Sleep is as essential to our survival as air, water and food. Poor sleep can contribute to a multitude of health issues. Dr Sarah Jay PhD is a senior post-doctoral research fellow at the Appleton Institute at CQ University. Her particular interest is in the role of sleep.
As dietitians, we see many clients who don’t get enough sleep. Sarah shows us the latest research into the effects of sleep loss and circadian disruption, which can lead to weight gain, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, mental health issues, and a general negative impact on all facets of our lives. She describes how sleep restriction impairs glucose tolerance and how appetite is increased by a combination of reduced leptin and increased ghrelin after just four nights of restricted sleep, which leads to increased snacking on sweet foods. We are given tips and recommendations on how to advise our clients on how much sleep they should have for optimal health, how to make best use of their sleep opportunities (sleep hygiene) and how to manage eating and sleeping around shift work in a world that runs 24/7.
Sarah Jay completed her PhD in 2007 and over the past 10 years has worked in both New Zealand and Australia conducting research that is broadly focussed on the impact of working hours on safety and health.
For more information and to register click here