Could you be a super sleeper?

• New analysis of over 150,000 Vitality members finds that for healthy, active adults under 60, sleep consistency and bedtime regularity can counter the impact of insufficient time spent asleep
• Regular exercise shown to significantly reduce the number of hours slept required for good health
• Findings build on Vitality and LSE research showing that consistent sleep behaviors can add up to two years to life expectancy and cut mortality risk by 24%

At a time when millions of Americans report not getting enough sleep, a new analysis has identified a cohort of 'Super Sleepers' who avoid the detrimental health outcomes typically associated with short sleep.

Identified through insights from Vitality, a global leader in supporting better employee health through behavior change, the ‘Super Sleepers’ are a cohort of adults under 60, without chronic conditions, who all exercise consistently and whose sleep architecture reflects good quality rest.

While sleep experts continue to recommend at least seven hours of sleep for most adults, the analysis suggests that a more personalized approach may be appropriate for some healthy, active individuals.

The data suggests that, for this group of ‘super sleepers’, sleeping between five and six hours does not produce the adverse health outcomes typically associated with short sleep. Crucially, the analysis identifies that consistent exercise, a minimum of three times per week, is the primary factor enabling this cohort to become ‘Super Sleepers,’ providing them with a unique resilience to shorter sleep durations.

The traits and behaviors of the 'Super Sleeper' cohort include:

• Aged under 60
• No chronic conditions, such as hypertension or diabetes
• Regular exercise – at least three sessions of 30 minutes per week
• Consistent bedtime with variation of no more than 45 minutes night-to-night
• Sleep architecture consistent with good quality rest: at least 16% deep sleep and 23% REM sleep

The analysis draws on wearable device data across more than 150,000 Vitality members and shows that rather than the hours slept, the time people go to bed and the consistency of their sleep are two of the biggest factors in determining health outcomes for this group.

This builds on Vitality's research published with the London School of Economics (LSE) earlier this year, which found that adopting consistent positive sleep behaviors could add up to two years to life expectancy and reduce mortality risk by almost a quarter. That study, which tracked more than 47 million nights of sleep, also found that bedtime consistency was an even stronger predictor of health risk than hours slept alone.

Sleep remains one of the most overlooked drivers of workforce health, productivity, and healthcare utilization. The prevailing consensus and current guidelines recommend seven hours of sleep per night to support broader health. However, Vitality's member data shows many adults fall well below that target: 36% of members sleep less than seven hours per night, of which 16% sleep less than six hours. Falling short of the seven-hour guideline is associated with a range of adverse outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, metabolic dysfunction and cognitive decline. Vitality analysis verified by the LSE shows that achieving more than seven hours of sleep is associated with an 8% reduction in in-hospital claims compared to those sleeping less than seven hours. This same 8% reduction is also observed among ‘Super Sleepers,’ individuals who achieve high sleep quality scores despite shorter durations, when compared to those with low sleep scores resulting from poor duration.

With a significant proportion of adults consistently falling short of current guidelines, the question becomes how adults can better protect their health through sleep. Broad guidelines have their place, but the research suggests that, for this cohort at least, the answer isn't necessarily more sleep — it's a personalized approach: an active lifestyle paired with a consistent bedtime and sleep duration.

Maia Surmava, CEO of Vitality Group, said: "For years, the message has largely been that everyone needs seven or eight hours of sleep every night to stay healthy. Our data tells a more nuanced story. Broad sleep guidelines have their place, but what these data show us is that a personalized approach — one that accounts for lifestyle, activity levels and sleep consistency — can be a more meaningful guide to health than a universal hour-based target. We have seen members sleeping under six hours avoid the negative health outcomes typically associated with short sleep, but only when they exercise regularly and when their bedtime and sleep length are consistent each night. This builds on our research with LSE, which showed that consistent sleep behaviors alone can add up to two years to life expectancy. Together, this tells us that how — and when — we sleep can matter just as much as how long. The findings suggest that employers may benefit from encouraging not only adequate sleep duration but also sleep consistency and physical activity. They also reinforce Vitality's broader focus on sleep as a foundational health behavior alongside physical activity, nutrition and preventive care."

Notes to editor

This data is based on analysis of sleep and clinical outcomes data from more than 150,000 Vitality members who actively engaged with the Vitality Sleep benefit following its launch on 1 May 2026. Sleep data is derived from wearable device data submitted by members through the Vitality app.

Additional context statistics on sleep, mortality risk and life expectancy are drawn from separate research published by Vitality and the London School of Economics (LSE) in February 2026, which analyzed more than 47 million nights of sleep.

The Vitality Sleep Score is a personalized metric that aggregates sleep duration, quality and consistency data, then links it directly to health outcomes using causal inference modelling across the Vitality member population.

Full methodology available upon request.

About Vitality

Vitality is the world's largest behavior change and risk reduction company, impacting over 52 million lives across 36 markets. Guided by a core purpose of making people healthier and enhancing and protecting their lives, Vitality brings together advanced digital engagement and prevention tools with integrated human care, unifying previously disconnected solutions to improve health outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and enhance member experiences. Vitality pioneered shared-value insurance — harnessing data, AI, and incentives to unlock precision engagement at scale that links directly to healthcare funding, making healthcare more affordable and equitable. Powered by Vitality AI, Vitality delivers the action that matters most for each member at each moment using behavioral and actuarial science, motivates members to take action through compelling rewards, and translates engagement into independently validated risk reduction with Vitality Status. For more information, visit vitalitygroup.com.

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Regular exercise has been shown to significantly reduce the number of hours of sleep required for good health.