Higher Body Mass Index Linked To Poorer Sleep Quality

Dr. Nitin Kapoor, Professor and Head (Unit 1), Dept. of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Christian Medical College, Vellore (TN) India. 

Higher body mass index is associated with poorer sleep quality, even after accounting for mood and lifestyle habits.

Poor sleep is often seen in people with excess weight. However, this link may also be influenced by factors such as mood, lifestyle habits, and daily behaviors. Understanding whether weight itself affects sleep is important.

The study aimed to examine the relationship between weight and sleep quality while adjusting for factors such as anxiety, depression, and common behaviors like night-eating, alcohol use, and screen time. A total of 161 participants with normal weight, overweight, or obesity were assessed. They completed online questionnaires on sleep quality, lifestyle habits, and mental health at the start and after three months. Body measurements such as body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and physical activity were also recorded using objective methods.

Results showed that higher BMI was linked to poorer sleep. It was associated with more sleep disturbances at baseline and lower sleep efficiency after three months. Waist-to-hip ratio and weight category did not show a clear link with sleep quality. Lifestyle habits such as night-eating, alcohol use, and electronic device use, along with anxiety and depression, were also related to poor sleep

The findings suggest that higher BMI can negatively affect sleep quality, independent of other factors. At the same time, mood and lifestyle habits also play an important role in sleep health.

(Reference: Eid SW, Brown RF, Maloney SK, Birmingham CL. Can the relationship between overweight/obesity and sleep quality be explained by affect and behaviour?. Eat Weight Disord. 2022;27(7):2821-2834. doi:10.1007/s40519-022-01435-1)