Sleep duration, sleep quality and the risk of being obese: Evidence from the Australian panel survey

Rhythm- and sex-dependent lipid accumulation in Drosophila melanogaster by phthalates

Phthalates (PAEs) have been linked to obesity prevalence. Their obesogenic effects were influenced by sexes and rhythm, while the underlying mechanisms remained to be explored. In the present study, dimethyl phthalate (DMP), dioctyl phthalate (DOP), diisopentyl phthalate (DIPP) and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) were chosen as the PAEs' representatives, and their obesogenic effects were measured in Drosophila melanogaster with consideration on sleep and eclosion rhythms and sex-dependent differences. Results showed that DMP and DOP stimulated body weight, and 4 PAEs commonly influenced the total sleep with less inhibition or more stimulation in males than in females. Biochemical analysis showed that 4 PAEs commonly elevated levels of triglyceride (TG), glucose and lactate with more significant effects in males than in females, with simultaneous more stimulated enzymes in males. Meanwhile, their stimulatory effects on cholesterol and pyruvate were more overwhelmed in females. In addition, the PAEs' effects on TG were more convincing in adults eclosed in afternoon (PM) than those in morning (AM), while their effects on glucose, lactate, cholesterol and pyruvate were more convincing in AM adults with simultaneous more stimulated enzymes than in PM ones. Further analysis on the expressions of the pdk-1/akt/foxo signaling pathway, and the results demonstrated that the PAEs' effects on lipid metabolism connected with their influences on rhythm and hormone regulations. The correlation analysis on the overall results demonstrated that the PAEs' toxicities were also influenced by the molecular weights.

Association between body roundness index and sleep disorder: the mediating role of depression

BACKGROUND

Several studies have indicated a potential association between obesity, depression, and sleep disorders. However, the role of depression in mediating the relationship between obesity and sleep disorders remains unclear. The Body Roundness Index (BRI), a more precise anthropometric measure of obesity than the traditional body mass index (BMI), is particularly effective in assessing body and visceral fat levels. This study examines the relationship between BRI and sleep disorders, with a focus on whether depression influences this association.

METHODS

This study included data from 32,504 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2018 cycle. The association between BRI and sleep disorders was examined through subgroup analysis, restricted cubic spline (RCS) modeling, threshold effect analysis, and multivariable logistic regression. Furthermore, the predictive capabilities of various anthropometric indices-including BRI, weight-adjusted waist index (WWI), BMI, and weight-on sleep disorder incidence were assessed using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Finally, a Mediation analysis was also performed to explore the potential role of depression in this relationship.

RESULTS

This study included 32,504 participants, of whom 4,568 reported sleep disorders. After adjusting for all covariates using multivariable logistic regression, each one-unit increase in BRI was associated with a 13% higher prevalence of sleep disorders (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.16) and an 8% higher prevalence of depression (OR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.11). Similar results were obtained when BRI was divided into tertiles, with a significant trend (P for trend < 0.05). RCS and threshold effect analyses revealed a nonlinear relationship between BRI and sleep disorder prevalence, with a breakpoint of 3.508. The ROC curve analysis revealed that BRI had a superior predictive capability compared to traditional obesity indices, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.637 (95% CI, 0.628-0.645, all P < 0.001). Mediation analysis further indicated that 14% of the association between BRI and sleep disorders was mediated by depression (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Elevated BRI levels were linked to a higher prevalence of sleep disorders, with depression acting as a partial mediator in this relationship. These findings emphasize the potential connection between obesity, depression, and sleep disorders, highlighting the importance of managing visceral fat to mitigate the risk of sleep disorders.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

Not applicable.

University Students' Sociodemographics, Physical Inactivity, and Inadequate and Poor-Quality Sleep Are Associated With Their Overweight/Obesity: Findings From a Case-Control Study in Bangladesh

Background and Aims

Evidence confirms a high prevalence of general and abdominal obesity among university students in Bangladesh. The primary objective of this case-control study was to examine the association between overweight/obesity and sleep patterns (including sleep duration and quality) among university students in Bangladesh. The secondary objective was to identify the sociodemographic and lifestyle-related factors that predict overweight/obesity in the study population.

Methods

The sociodemographics and body mass index (BMI) were gathered from a sample of 330 university students (setting: one public university in Bangladesh). Sleep health was measured by the 19-item Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and compared between the cases (BMI ≥ 23.0 kg/m2) and controls (BMI = 18.5-22.9 kg/m2). Bivariate and multiple stepwise regression analyses were performed.

Results

One hundred and sixty-five overweight/obesity students and 165 control subjects participated in the study. The peak age for overweight/obesity was 22-25 years in the students, and about 67% of the cases were poor-quality sleepers compared to 53% of the students in the control group. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that students' overweight/obesity was associated with being female (adjusted odds ratio, aOR = 2.12; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.25, 3.61), short sleep duration ( ≤ 7 h/night) (aOR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.04, 2.66), poor quality of sleep (aOR = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.16, 2.87), and physical inactivity (aOR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.12, 3.55).

Conclusion

Key factors associated with overweight/obesity among Bangladeshi university students include age (22-25 years), gender (higher prevalence in female students), sleep duration and quality, and physical inactivity. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions addressing sleep health, physical activity, and healthy lifestyles to mitigate overweight/obesity among university students.

Staging of obesity-associated hypoventilation in patients with morbid obesity scheduled for bariatric surgery

Background: Almost 20% of Polish citizens aged >15 years are obese and this number is increasing. Numerous obesity-associated diseases include, quite notably, also sleep-related breathing disorders and hypoventilation. This study aimed to analyse the prevalence of obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) and hypoventilation staging in a group of patients qualified for bariatric surgery within the Comprehensive Specialist Care in Bariatrics (KOS-BAR) pilot program designed and running in Poland since 2021. Methods: Prior to the bariatric procedure, the participants were referred to a pulmonologist for assessment. We retrospectively analysed the records of 134 patients. Results: Almost all of the tested bariatric patients (n = 122, 91.0%) had obstructive sleep apnea mainly classified as severe (59.0%). Hypoventilation was confirmed in 30 patients (22.4%), and in 37.9% of them, increased levels of serum bicarbonate were found. Chronic diurnal hypercapnia was confirmed in 7.9% of patients (10/122). Conclusions: Hypoventilation as well as obstructive sleep apnea in the obese population is a significant issue. The presented study group included patients in stages 0-IV of obesity-associated hypoventilation. The conducted analysis suggests that the most common form of hypoventilation among patients qualified for bariatric surgery is obesity-associated sleep hypoventilation (stage I).

High Body Roundness Index Is Associated With Unhealthy Sleep Patterns: Insights From NHANES (2007-2014)

BACKGROUND

Substantial evidence suggests an association between obesity and sleep. However, research investigating sleep patterns in relation to novel anthropometric indices is limited. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2007 to 2014 to examine the relationship between the body roundness index (BRI) and unhealthy sleep patterns.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the association between the BRI and unhealthy sleep patterns among US adults.

METHODS

Data were sourced from NHANES (2007-2014), including respondents aged 20 years and older. Participants were categorized into two groups based on the healthiness of their sleep patterns. The data were weighted, and multiple potential covariates were included in the analysis to provide national estimates and account for the comprehensive sampling design. A multivariable weighted logistic regression model was used, employing restricted cubic spline (RCS) curves to examine potential associations, and subgroup analyses were conducted to determine the stability of the results. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to compare the diagnostic performance of BRI and body mass index (BMI) in identifying unhealthy sleep patterns.

RESULTS

In the fully adjusted multivariable logistic regression model, the prevalence odds ratio (POR) for the association between BRI and unhealthy sleep patterns was 1.09, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.07-1.10. The RCS analysis found that the nonlinear association between BRI and unhealthy sleep patterns was not significant. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses indicated a consistently positive association between high BRI and unhealthy sleep patterns across most subgroups. ROC diagnostic tests showed that BRI's effectiveness in diagnosing unhealthy sleep patterns was comparable to that of BMI, and it was not inferior to BMI in assessing certain components of sleep patterns.

CONCLUSION

High BRI is positively associated with unhealthy sleep patterns significantly, indicating that BRI could be a promising metric for evaluating sleep health.

Altered structural node of default mode network mediated general cognitive ability in young adults with obesity

BACKGROUND

Obesity, characterized by excessive adiposity, is associated with brain structural abnormalities. Nevertheless, the relationships between altered structural nodes of default mode network (DMN), body mass index (BMI), general cognitive ability remained unclear in young adults.

METHODS

In this study, we divided a large sample of young adults into three BMI-based groups. We then conducted one-way analyses of variance and post-hoc tests with Bonferroni corrections to investigate abnormal structural brain regions associated with obesity. Furthermore, mediation effects models were built to explore whether the structural alterations influenced the relationship between BMI and general cognitive ability.

RESULTS

Compared to their lean and overweight counterparts, young adults with obesity exhibited significantly lower general cognitive ability, higher impulsivity traits, and worse sleep quality. Furthermore, compared with lean group, young adults with obesity exhibited altered cortical thickness of both the left temporal pole and right superior parietal lobule, and abnormal cortical surface area (CSA) of the left entorhinal cortex (EC), a hub within DMN. Moreover, CSA of the left EC mediated the relationship between BMI and general cognitive ability.

CONCLUSION

Obesity was linked to altered structural node of DMN, which mediated general cognitive ability in young adults. These findings indicated the negative effect of obesity on DMN and general cognitive ability in young adults.

Association of sleep quality with physical and psychological health indicators in overweight and obese rural Indians

Objective

To measure the association of sleep quality with physical (i.e., grip strength, functional mobility, balance) and psychological (depression, anxiety) health indicators in an overweight/obese population.

Methods

Baseline data of 2337 participants (1382 overweight/obese and 955 normal weight) from an aging cohort in rural southern India (CBR-SANSCOG) was analyzed retrospectively. Assessment tools included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for sleep quality, dynamometry for Hand Grip Strength (HGS), Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) for functional mobility, Chair Stand Test (CST) for lower limb strength, Geriatric Depression scale (GDS-30) for depressive symptoms and Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) for anxiety symptoms. Linear regression models, adjusted for known confounders, were used to examine the association of sleep quality with the health parameters in overweight/obese and normal-weight groups.

Results

In the fully adjusted model, higher global PSQI score was associated with higher TUG time (β = 0.06, 95 % CI: 0.004,0.12), higher scores on GDS (β = 1.08, 95 % CI: 0.96,1.20) and GAD (β = 0.71, 95 % CI: 0.62,0.79), and lower scores on CST (β = -0.12, 95 % CI: -0.19,-0.06) in overweight/obese individuals. The sleep disturbance sub-component of PSQI was associated with most of the physical (TUG, CST) and psychological (GDS and GAD) health indicators. Sleep duration and use of sleep medication showed no significant association with any of the health indicators.

Conclusion

The concurrent presence of poor sleep quality and overweight/obesity could worsen physical and psychological health in middle-aged and older adults. We highlight the importance of early detection and timely management of sleep problems in this population to reduce physical and psychological morbidities.

The impact of chronic insomnia disorder on menstruation and ovarian reserve in childbearing-age women: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) is a disorder characterized by impaired ovarian function. Sleep disorders are disruptions of the circadian rhythm, which appears to be closely linked to reproductive systems. This study aimed to investigate the impact of poor sleep quality on the ovarian reserve of childbearing-age women.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in China from June 2021 to March 2023. In total, 102 participants diagnosed with chronic insomnia disorder were included in the study. Questionnaires were administered to assess participants' menstrual patterns, insomnia severity, anxiety, and depression. The anti-Müllerian hormone level and the basal antral follicle count were measured for ovarian reserve evaluation. Correlation analysis and ordinal logistic regression analysis were conducted.

RESULTS

The women with insomnia presented high percentages of hypomenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome, and dysmenorrhea (78.4%, 74.5%, and 46.1%, respectively). Severe sleep disorder in the past month was identified as an independent risk factor for hypomenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome (odds ratio [OR], 2.64 and OR, 2.688; p<0.05). The prevalence of DOR among women with insomnia (33.3%) was significantly higher than the average reported in previous studies for young women. Insomnia duration exceeding 1 year was determined to be an independent risk factor for DOR in women aged 36 to 40 years (OR, 4.5; p=0.033).

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the association between sleep disorders and menstrual problems. Prolonged poor sleep quality in women aged 36 to 40 years was identified as a significant risk factor for DOR. We should pay more attention to improving sleep quality in order to maintain normal ovarian function.

Determination of the relationship between body composition and nutritional habits and chronotype in healthy Turkish adults

This cross-sectional study aims to determine the relationship between chronotype characteristics, dietary habits, and body composition in 110 adults, of which 75.5% are female, residing in Mersin, Türkiye. Data collection included a descriptive information form, the Morningness-Eveningness Scale for assessing chronotype, a detailed 24-hour dietary record for evaluating dietary intake, and Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis for accurate anthropometric measurements of body composition. The evening types had higher BMI, body weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, total fat mass, and lower body water ratio than the morning types. Positive correlations were found between sleep duration and body mass index, total fat mass, and fat percentage. The evening types tended to skip breakfast more frequently and had higher energy intake during dinners and snacks. Additionally, the evening types consumed more lipids, carbohydrates, sodium, and saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. These findings suggest that chronotype influences anthropometric measurements, nutritional habits, and meal energy distribution. These findings highlight the importance of considering chronotype characteristics to understand how body composition and dietary patterns interact, underscoring the need for customized interventions to promote healthier lifestyles.