Insufficient sleep is a growing public health and economic concern

The classic nursery rhyme “early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise” seems to be more relevant today than ever before. An oft-unnoticed but potentially dangerous health syndrome in today’s world is sleep deprivation, which is not only affecting human health but also unleashing far-reaching economic consequences. A 2024 study in The Lancet found that consistently sleeping less than 6 hours per night is associated with a 13% increase in all-cause mortality.

According to studies, insufficient sleep results in compromised economic output through three main channels: absenteeism, presenteeism (physically present but mentally checked out), and premature mortality. Data from RAND Europe shows that the combined annual economic loss across five major OECD nations — the US, UK, Japan, Germany and Canada — exceeds $680 billion per year.

Are people able to sleep the minimum number of hours required? Perhaps not all. The WHO recommends 7 to 9 hours of sleep for adults (18-64), 8 to 10 hours for teenagers (13-18), and 9 to 12 hours for schoolchildren (6 to 12). According to a CDC study, over 70% of teenagers get insufficient sleep, while 30.5% of adults sleep under 7 hours nightly.

The situation in India is not much different, as it is ranked the second-most sleep-deprived country in the world after Japan. A study by Reme Sleep has found that 34% of Indian schoolchildren sleep for less than 9 hours, while 64% of Indian teenagers sleep fewer than 8 hours, mainly due to tuitions and coaching for Board exams, JEE, NEET, etc. The LocalCircles “How India Sleeps” national survey reveals that an astonishing 59% to 61% of Indian adults sleep less than 6 hours a night.

The main factors behind India’s sleep crisis appear to be intense corporate hustle, a highly competitive education system, economic insecurities and modern lifestyles. Working long hours, especially in cities — the economic hubs — has become a narrative of professional excellence; but actually, it is only an ‘always on’ trap destroying work-life balance. Making matters worse, the digital revolution has opened the floodgates of entertainment, glueing people to screens. Round-the-clock entertainment on OTTs, ‘reels’ and social media has been the last straw, as blue light from screens delays the natural release of melatonin, the hormone responsible for sleep.

Most advanced countries have risen to the occasion, treating sleep as a collective resource — “sleep capital”. In Europe, for example, the ‘Right to Disconnect’ law bans companies from penalising employees for not answering emails or messages outside standard business hours. Several states in the US have passed laws forcing high schools to start no earlier than 8:30 AM, guaranteeing children’s right to sleep.

Growth is welcome, but not at the cost of sleep — a basic human right. The CDC has declared insufficient sleep a “public health problem” in the US. Sadly, in India, the government and society have not yet paid the required attention to the “sleep desert” phenomenon.

Public advocacy groups may contribute to generating awareness, but state intervention is indispensable in addressing the issues; successful campaigns on the environment and sanitation may serve as inspiring examples. Firstly, hundreds of TV channels, OTT and social media platforms need to be brought under control by regulating operational time. Secondly, all offices, except those of essential services, should close by 5 PM and shops and business establishments by 8 PM at the latest. Schools need to be restricted from opening before 9 AM, for there can be no compromise on the health needs of children, adolescents and especially girls. Strict enforcement of labour laws is equally necessary to restrain the private sector from extracting work from employees and labourers after sunset. Last but not least, political leaders can learn to be magnanimous by respecting the private time of public servants after office hours and enjoying their own as well.

Views expressed are personal