Sleep Behaviors and Their Relationship to Obesity in Iranian Adults

Obesity and its comorbidities have appeared as a leading public health concern. Obesity has been shown in previous studies to be influenced by short sleep duration. Our aim was to explore the relationship between BMI and sleep behaviors, including duration and disturbances in Iranian adults.

This cross-sectional study consisted of 395 adults chosen among students of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, based on a multistage cluster random sampling method. Sleep characteristics were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and clinically measured height and weight to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI). Linear logistic regression analyses were performed using components of the PSQI as predictors of overweight (BMI ≥ 25).

One-fourth of the participants had BMI ≥ 25, and 40.8% were poor-quality sleepers (PSQI > 5). Mean sleep duration was 6.39 (1.05) hours for participants. Among the men after controlling for age, socioeconomic status and education level, a significant negative relationship was found between sleep duration and body mass index: longer sleep was associated with lower BMI levels and this association was marginally significant in women and only in men sleep quality was associated to overweight and obesity.

This study’s findings highlight the high rate of overweight and obesity and sleep disturbances among students of Medical Sciences. These findings support extending the scope of wellness programs to promote healthy sleep among students. However, more research is needed to examine sleep and body composition as risk factors for disease development in Iranian adults.