Are Weighted Blankets Just a Marketing Gimmick?
Limited research indicates they can help with sleep and anxiety
Millions of people don’t get enough sleep, yet many are leery of taking medications each night to treat insomnia. Although behavioral approaches, often labeled “good sleep hygiene” can help many individuals, these techniques require self examination and consistent practice to be effective. For many, a heavy, snuggly blanket provides an accessible, appealing, and simple tool towards better sleep.
My punster friend Blanca weighed in on the matter: “Direct-to-consumer medical products shouldn’t be granted blanket immunity from proving that they work. So how about weighted blankets, duvet comfort people or duvet not? It’s an important topic to cover.”
More than a dozen studies address those questions. We have encouraging, but not compelling, evidence that weighted blankets can help reduce anxiety and enhance sleep, particularly for individuals on the autism spectrum or with other mental health conditions. One country in particular has been the Swede spot for weighted blanket research. Most of the investigations were conducted in Scandinavia, where weighted blankets have widespread acceptance and are often prescribed by occupational therapists. We have even less certainty about how weighted blankets might exert…
