Sleep vs. Exercise: Which is More Influential for Body Health?

JAKARTA - Sleep and exercise are often referred to as the keys to a healthy life. However, in practice, many adults actually find it difficult to meet both of them simultaneously.

A recent study suggests sleep may have a bigger role than previously thought, especially in influencing how active someone is the next day.

Reported from the Eating Well website on Saturday, December 27, 2025, these findings were published in the scientific journal Communications Medicine and provide a new perspective on the relationship between sleep and physical activity in daily life.

The research, conducted by a team of researchers from Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia, analyzed long-term data from more than 70 thousand adults. The data was collected between January 2020 and September 2023 using wearable devices, such as sleep sensors under the mattress and smartwatches that record steps.

The results of the analysis showed that only about 12.9 percent of participants consistently met health recommendations, namely sleeping for 7-9 hours per night and doing physical activity equivalent to more than 8,000 steps per day.

Interestingly, this study found that sleep has a greater influence on physical activity than the other way around. Participants tend to be more active on the day after they sleep about 6-7 hours, not after sleeping too short or too long.

In addition to duration, sleep quality also plays an important role. Participants who slept more efficiently and woke up less at night. This recorded a higher number of steps the next day.

Conversely, the level of physical activity during the day only has a small impact on the next night's sleep. A high number of steps does not significantly improve the duration or quality of sleep. This indicates that exercise does not always automatically make sleep more restful.

"These findings are relevant for many people who find it difficult to divide their time between rest and exercise. This study suggests that improving sleep quality can be an important first step to staying physically active," he said.

This also helps explain why some people who exercise regularly still experience sleep disorders. Based on the findings of the journal, improving sleep habits such as consistent sleep hours and a comfortable sleeping environment. This can be a more effective strategy to support an active lifestyle.

Researchers emphasize that sleep and exercise should not be seen as two competing goals. Instead, the two are interrelated and need to be managed in a balanced way.

The conclusions in the journal Communications Medicine say understanding the interaction between sleep and physical activity could help shape more realistic health guidelines.

Instead of prioritizing one and sacrificing the other, an approach that supports both is considered more effective for long-term health.