Number of 6 hours of sleep per night revealed in terrifying images

If ever there was a sign to sleep your beauty, this is it.

A British bed and mattress company has teamed up with a self-described “sleep evangelist” to illustrate what our bodies could look like in 25 years if we don’t get enough sleep on a regular basis – and it’s not pretty.

With the help of Dr. Bensons for Beds’ Sophie Bostock created dramatic digital renderings of what a female body might look like in 2050 if she typically gets around six hours of sleep a night.

Experts consistently recommend getting seven to nine hours a night, yet 57% of Americans said they need more sleep in a 2024 Gallup poll.

In New York City, the average amount of sleep reported per night is six hours and 36 minutes, according to a recent survey — and it’s up to six hours and 18 minutes in Staten Island.

And while we all know that being tired doesn’t feel good in the short term, it can also cause lasting damage, as exemplified by “Hannah,” Benson’s stunning model for Beds.

Hannah’s features – stooped posture, thinning hair, aged skin – were created using academic studies on the impact of too little sleep, and the effects offer a stark warning.

“Hannah is a thought-provoking illustration of the holistic impact sleep has on maintaining overall health. “Studies show that prolonged sleep deprivation can put you at a higher risk for conditions that can affect the heart — including obesity, heart disease and type 2 diabetes,” said Dr. Bostock.

Saggy skin, dry eyes, droopy mouth

Research has shown that sleep problems can be to blame for some visible signs of skin aging. A 2015 study found that people with chronically poor sleep quality not only had more signs of aging, but also decreased skin barrier function and lower satisfaction with their appearance.

Over time, lack of sleep – or poor sleep – can lead to fine lines and wrinkles, red and puffy eyes, bags under the eyes, dark circles and sagging at the corners of the mouth.

Researchers in Stockholm even found that people who didn’t get enough sleep were perceived as less attractive and less healthy.

locks

It’s a two-way street: Sleep disorders have been shown to lead to alopecia, and this alopecia can cause stress and lead to poor sleep.

Poor sleep has also been linked to greasier hair – our bodies produce more cortisol, the stress hormone, when we’re not resting, including the scalp.

Back and shoulder pain

Poor sleep has been repeatedly associated with back pain – and of course, this pain then makes it more difficult to get good sleep.

For Hannah, this means a hunched over unhappy attitude in addition to her pain.

Stomach

Not getting enough shut-eye has been linked to visceral fat, belly fat that accumulates around vital organs and is linked to metabolic disease and insulin resistance.

The hormones responsible for hunger, leptin and ghrelin, are also reduced – meaning appetite increases.

The Bensons note that being tired is also a reason someone might exercise less, and for Hannah, that meant she gained “significant weight around her stomach.”

Muscle and ankle atrophy

Chronic sleep loss is a “catabolic stressor,” meaning it can lead to metabolic dysfunction and loss of muscle mass.

Even just a few nights of sleep restriction have been shown to decrease muscle protein synthesis rates in men. In Hannah, this is shown by muscle atrophy in her arms and legs.

Hannah was also given swollen ankles, a sign of heart disease – which can also be caused by poor sleeping habits.

Worst case scenario

Not getting enough sleep can also lead to memory loss and poor immunity, which means a higher chance of catching a cold or flu.

It is also linked to impaired cognitive functioning, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart and kidney problems, depression and increased inflammation, which can lead to various types of chronic health conditions and diseases.

“Hannah is a worst-case scenario prediction of what can happen to someone if they do everything wrong in terms of a poor sleep routine and poor mattress support,” said Lisa Richards, Marketing Director at Bensons. “The reason we wanted to create this model was to get people to think more carefully about their overall sleep experience. Using this visual makes it easier for people to identify with the issue and key cues.”