A recent study conducted by researchers at Flinders University has unveiled alarming trends in global sleep patterns and physical activity levels. The analysis examined over 28 million days of health data from more than 70,000 individuals worldwide, revealing that fewer than 13% of participants consistently meet the recommended guidelines for sleep and physical activity. The findings, published in the journal Communications Medicine, suggest that improving sleep quality may be crucial for enhancing daily activity levels.
The research team collected data over a span of three and a half years, utilizing consumer health devices to monitor nightly sleep and daily step counts. Results indicated that most individuals fell short of the widely recognized benchmarks of achieving between seven to nine hours of sleep and completing at least 8,000 steps daily. Alarmingly, nearly 17% of participants averaged less than seven hours of sleep and fewer than 5,000 steps, a combination linked to increased risks of chronic diseases, weight gain, and mental health issues.
Link Between Sleep Quality and Activity Levels
Lead author Josh Fitton, a Ph.D. candidate at Flinders University’s Sleep Health research facility, emphasized the significant findings regarding the interplay between sleep and physical activity. “We found that getting a good night’s sleep—especially high-quality sleep—sets you up for a more active day,” Fitton stated. “People who slept well tended to move more the following day, but doing extra steps didn’t really improve sleep that night. This highlights the importance of sleep if we want to boost physical activity.”
Interestingly, the study revealed that the optimal duration of sleep for increased next-day activity was between six to seven hours. “Our data showed that sleeping around six to seven hours per night was linked to the highest step counts the next day,” Fitton noted. He cautioned, however, that this should not encourage individuals to cut back on sleep, as sleep quality remains critical. Participants who experienced more efficient sleep—defined as spending less time awake in bed—were consistently more active.
Reassessing Health Guidelines
The findings raise pertinent questions about the practicality of current health guidelines. Fitton remarked, “Our findings call into question the real-world compatibility of prominent health recommendations and highlight how difficult it is for most people to have an active lifestyle and sleep well at the same time.” He noted that only a small fraction of individuals can meet the recommended levels of both sleep and activity consistently, suggesting a need for more realistic guidelines that consider people’s daily lives.
Senior author Professor Danny Eckert echoed this sentiment, stating that for individuals balancing work, family, and other responsibilities, prioritizing sleep may be the first step toward a healthier, more active lifestyle. “Prioritizing sleep could be the most effective way to boost your energy, motivation, and capacity for movement,” he said. Professor Eckert recommended simple lifestyle changes, such as reducing screen time before bed, maintaining a consistent bedtime, and creating a calming sleep environment, to enhance sleep quality.
“Our research shows that sleep is not just a passive state; it’s an active contributor to your ability to live a healthy, active life,” Eckert added. The implications of this study could reshape how health practitioners advise patients regarding lifestyle changes, emphasizing the importance of sleep as a foundation for overall well-being.
For more detailed findings, refer to the study titled “Bidirectional associations between sleep and physical activity investigated using large-scale objective monitoring data,” published in Communications Medicine in 2025. The DOI for the study is 10.1038/s43856-025-01226-6.
