Sleep and obesity: an introduction

Night Eating Syndrome and Its Relationship with Emotional Eating, Sleep Quality and Nutritional Status Among Adolescents' Boys

Current study was aimed to evaluate the relationship between emotional eating and night eating syndrome (NES) with sleep quality among adolescents in Tabriz-Iran. The current study was conducted among eighty adolescent boys aged 12-16 years old from Tabriz-Iran. Night eating syndrome and Emotional eating were measured by validated specific questionnaires. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire (PSQI) was used for assessment of sleep quality. Emotional and very emotional eaters had significantly higher protein and fat intake. Among components of PSQI, subjective sleep quality, sleep disturbances and daytime dysfunction scores among emotional and very emotional eaters were significantly higher. Moreover, adolescents with NES, had higher PSQI score and lower carbohydrate intake; whereas, intake of fat among NES group was significantly higher (P < 0.05). Our results indicated poor sleep quality and higher dietary fat intake among adolescents with emotional eating disorder and NES. Therefore, it is necessary to consider healthy nutritional pattern including low fat intake in prevention of developing emotional eating and NES among adolescents.

Sleep pattern, obesity and healthcare expenditures in Brazilian adults

The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between sleep pattern and healthcare expenditures in adults, as well as to identify whether physical activity, biochemical markers and obesity affect this relationship. The sample was composed of 168 adults aged ≥ 50 years attended by two Basic Healthcare Units in Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil. Health expenditure, sleep pattern, anthropometry, adiposity index, physical activity, metabolic and cardiovascular variables were assessed. Statistical analyses were performed using Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney and Spearman tests. Sleep disorders were positively correlated to higher costs with medicines and negatively correlated to costs with laboratory tests, even after adjusts by confounders. In addition, healthcare costs were also correlated to physical activity score, blood pressure, obesity and metabolic variables. Severe sleep disorders and high percentage of body fat were associated with increased use of medications. Sleep pattern is correlated to primary care healthcare costs, obesity and physical activity level.

Partial sleep deprivation and food intake in participants reporting binge eating symptoms and emotional eating: preliminary results of a quasi-experimental study

Sleep deprivation consistently increases food intake. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of partial sleep deprivation on food intake in individuals reporting binge eating, controlling for self-reported depressive emotional eating. Fourteen young adults reporting binge eating symptoms and 14 controls denying any eating disorders symptoms were offered a large and varied breakfast after a night of habitual sleep (HN) and after a night of partial sleep deprivation (DN). Food intake was unobtrusively measured while daily food intake was measured via a food diary. Results revealed only a significant effect of the Night on fibre consumed at breakfast and on the amount of daily snacks: both groups consumed less fibre and more snacks after DN compared to after HN. However, when controlling for depressive emotional eating, results showed that individuals reporting low depressive emotional eating ate less after DN than after HN at breakfast, but then they ate more throughout the day. Partial sleep deprivation may decrease fibre consumption and increase daily snacks regardless of binge eating symptoms, while daily food intake may increase only in individuals who do not report emotional eating.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Experimental study, Level 1.

Is poor sleep associated with obesity in older adults? A narrative review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

To address the worldwide epidemic of obesity, a sizable literature implicates sleep problems in the onset of obesity in younger populations. However, less is known about how this process may operate among older adults, which is of concern, given demographic shifts that have resulted in a much higher proportion of developed nations around the world reaching late life.

METHODS

We offer a current review of the literature studying older adults and examining associations between sleep quality and obesity in this population. We consider both subjective and objectively measured sleep as well as both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies offering stronger causal inference.

RESULTS

We discuss seemingly contradictory literature showing that shorter sleep duration as well as longer sleep duration are associated with obesity risk, then review studies that tested for non-linear relationships and reported a U-shape pattern, suggesting that too much or too little sleep is detrimental. Besides sleep duration, we discuss evidence showing that other forms of sleep dysfunction related to night-time awakenings, REM sleep, slow-wave sleep, and daytime sleepiness, which are indicators of sleep quality, are also linked to obesity. Specific psychological and physiological mediators and moderators, suggesting possible mechanisms whereby sleep problems may affect obesity in older adults, are described.

CONCLUSION

We conclude by discussing areas, where additional research could help clarify this association, considering such factors as medical comorbidities common in late life, and health-related behaviors that may stem from poor sleep (such as disordered eating behavior). Such insights will have great value for clinical practice.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level V, narrative review.

Night eating syndrome and its association with weight status, physical activity, eating habits, smoking status, and sleep patterns among college students

BACKGROUND

Night eating syndrome (NES) is characterized by evening hyperphagia and/or nocturnal ingestion.

OBJECTIVE

The main objective of this study was to assess the percentage of students complying with symptoms and behaviors consistent with the diagnostic criteria for NES, and explore its association with body mass index (BMI), dietary habits, physical activity, smoking status, and sleep patterns, among a sample of college students.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a sample of 413 undergraduate students, mean age of 20.6 ± 1.68 SD, at Central Michigan University. Students completed an online survey including demographic information and the Night Eating Diagnostic Questionnaire (NEDQ) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Questionnaire (PSQI). Participants were grouped based on self-reporting of the presence and frequency of night eating-related symptoms and behaviors related to the diagnostic criteria for NES as follows: normal, mild night eater, moderate night eater, and full-syndrome night eater. Pearson's Chi-squared, Student's t test, and Wilcoxon rank-sum test were used to test the association between students with and without any night eating behavior in relation to BMI, lifestyle variables, and sleep duration/quality.

RESULTS

Results showed that the proportion of students complying with symptoms and behaviors consistent with full-syndrome of NES was 1.2%. There were no significant differences between students complying with symptoms and behaviors consistent with any level of NES and those without any night eating behavior regarding BMI, eating habits, physical activity, and smoking status. NES was significantly related to sleep duration (P = 0.023). Students complying with symptoms consistent with any level of NES reported shorter sleep time and had higher total PSQI score (6.73 ± 4.06) than students without the syndrome (5.61 ± 2.61) (P = 0.007).

CONCLUSION

Although the percentage of students complying with full-syndrome NES was relatively low in our student sample, those students had shorter sleep time and poorer sleep quality than the other groups. However, it is unclear whether evening hyperphagia is a response to a lack of sleep or vice versa, and further research is needed.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, case-control analytic study.

Associations of Overweight, Obesity and Related Factors with Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders and Snoring in Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Background: Sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD) have been identified as a major public health problem closely related to adolescent obesity. We aimed to estimate the prevalences of SRBD and snoring in adolescents in Changchun City, Northeastern China, and to evaluate the associated factors in this population. Methods: In total, 1955 adolescents aged 11–18 years were recruited in Changchun City using stratified cluster sampling. Parents and caretakers of children completed the questionnaires, which included demographic characteristics, anthropometric parameters and a pediatric sleep questionnaire (SRBD scale). Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between SRBD, snoring and other factors. Results: The prevalences of SRBD and snoring in our population were 3.7% and 3.3%, respectively, and the prevalences of overweight and obesity were 12.6% and 4.9%. Multivariate logistic regression showed that urban residence (OR = 2.356, 95%CI: 1.251–4.435) and post-term birth (OR = 3.275, 95%CI: 1.396–7.683) were significantly associated with SRBD. Preterm birth (OR = 2.255, 95%CI: 1.021–4.980) and parental education level of university and above (OR = 0.265, 95%CI: 0.083–0.850) were significantly associated with snoring. Overweight (OR = 2.063, 95%CI: 1.062–4.006) was also related to snoring. Conclusions: The prevalences of SRBD and snoring were similar to those reported in previous studies. Urban residence and post-term birth were important influencing factors for SRBD; overweight, highest parental education level (university and above) and preterm birth were key factors affecting snoring in adolescents.