WEDNESDAY, Nov. 30, 2016 -- Too little shut-eye can
have far-reaching effects -- even financial ones, a new report says.
Reduced
productivity and an increased risk of death linked to lack of sleep among U.S.
workers cost the nation's economy as much as $411 billion a year. That's more
than 2 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), the report
revealed
Lack of sleep leads to the loss of about 1.2 million
working days a year in the United States. Sleep deprivation-related
productivity losses are caused by employees missing work or working at less
than ideal levels, said the study authors from the RAND Corp., a nonprofit
research organization.
Compared
to someone who sleeps an average of seven to nine hours a night, the risk of
death is 13 percent higher for those who sleep less than six hours a night, and
7 percent higher for those who sleep six to seven hours a night, the report
said.
"Our
study shows that the effects from a lack of sleep are massive. Sleep
deprivation not only influences an individual's health and well-being but has a
significant impact on a nation's economy, with lower productivity levels and a
higher mortality risk among workers," report lead author Marco Hafner said
in a RAND news release.
"Improving
individual sleep habits and duration has huge implications, with our research
showing that simple changes can make a big difference. For example, if those
who sleep under six hours a night increase their sleep to between six and seven
hours a night, this could add $226.4 billion to the U.S. economy," he
added.
The
United States suffers the largest economic toll and most working days lost due
to sleep deprivation, compared with four other developed countries examined by
the researchers.
Japan
is second, losing up to $138 billion annually, which is nearly 3 percent of its
GDP. Japanese workers lose around 600,000 working days to a lack of sleep, the
report found.
Germany
loses up to $60 billion a year, or about 1.6 percent of its GDP. Just over
200,000 working days are lost to sleep deprivation in Germany, according to the
report.
The
United Kingdom loses up to $50 billion annually, or 1.86 percent of its GDP to
a lack of shut-eye. Approximately 200,000 working days are lost as a result of
poor sleep in the United Kingdom, the study found.
Canada
was last on the list, but still loses about $21 billion to sleep deprivation.
That's 1.35 percent of Canada's GDP. Just under 80,000 working days are lost,
the study authors said.
