A doctor warns that it's a bad idea to wake up extra early to work out
Dr. Nicole J. Van Groningen shared a list of things she'd never do as a doctor.
She advised viewers to ignore any influencers who told them to skip sleep to exercise.
Videos of fitness creators encouraging people to get out of bed are popular on TikTok.
A doctor shared a list of health suggestions online, starting by telling viewers to ignore influencers who encouraged them to skip sleep in favor of exercise.
On November 4, Dr. Nicole J. Van Groningen, who is an assistant professor of medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, posted a TikTok with an on-screen caption that read, "Things You'll Never Catch Me Doing As A Doctor."
In the video, which received 1.4 million views, Van Groningen began by saying she wouldn't wake up early and trade her sleep for exercise, and warned viewers not to listen to people online who suggested they do.
"Do not let any influencers out here convince you that it's best to cut your sleep duration short so that you can go to the gym and work out and build a better body," she said.
Videos of fitness creators encouraging viewers to get out of bed and work out, often screaming or shouting as an incentive, are popular on TikTok. While they don't overtly tell people to exercise on little sleep, some have made a specific point of how they've traded their own rest for exercise. Others shared motivation style videos of their commitment to the gym despite being sleep-deprived. This is often praised in the comments as a sign of discipline.
Some viewers have sought advice from fitness TikTokers directly on this topic, leaving comments that ask whether it's wise for them to exercise on little to no sleep. They tend to receive a mixed response; one creator said they would either see how they felt on the day and might continue regardless and just train less. Another suggested the viewer should go ahead with their session as it might make them feel better.
Dr. Raj Dasgupta, a sleep specialist and associate professor of clinical medicine at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine, spoke to CNN in January about this topic. He told the outlet a lack of sleep can stop muscles from being able to recover from the workout. He added that exhaustion can also lead to an increased likelihood of an injury as a result of slower reaction times while participating in exercise or sport.
"Sleep is the primary wellness habit, end of story, period," Van Groningen reiterated in her viral video, and went on to offer additional advice too.
She said she would never ride a motorcycle as they lack the safety features of cars, or ride a bike without a helmet. She added that she would never blame someone for their health status as "even the 'healthiest' people get sick," nor would she judge someone's health based on how they look.
The video proved popular with her viewers, receiving 1.4 million views — one of the most viral on her account. It also received over 2,000 comments. While many were positive, some people disagreed with her saying she wouldn't automatically prioritize "natural" healing methods. She responded by pointing out that she was just sharing her opinion, everyone was free to make their own choices.
Van Groningen has 37,000 followers on TikTok where she regularly posts health recommendations, and day-in-the-life style videos documenting her role as a doctor.
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