Patterns of Eating Associated with Sleep Characteristics: A Pilot Study among Individuals of Mexican Descent at the US-Mexico Border

Association of Birthplace for Sleep Duration, Sleep Quality, and Sleep Disorder Symptoms, at the US-Mexico Border

OBJECTIVES

The present study investigated the roles birthplace and acculturation play in sleep estimates among Hispanic/Latino population at the US-Mexico border.

MEASURES

Data were collected in 2016, from N = 100 adults of Mexican descent from the city of Nogales, AZ, at the US-Mexico border. Sleep was assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Insomnia Severity Index categorized as none, mild, moderate, and severe, and Multivariable Apnea Prediction Index (MAP) categorized as never, infrequently, and frequently. Acculturation was measured with the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican-Americans II (ARSMA-II).

RESULTS

The sample consisted of majority Mexican-born (66%, vs. born in the USA 38.2%). Being born in the USA was associated with 55 fewer minutes of nighttime sleep (p = .011), and 1.65 greater PSQI score (p = .031). Compared to no symptoms, being born in the USA was associated with greater likelihood of severe difficulty falling asleep (OR = 8.3, p = .030) and severe difficulty staying asleep (OR = 11.2, p = .050), as well as decreased likelihood of breathing pauses during sleep (OR = 0.18, P = .020). These relationships remained significant after Mexican acculturation was entered in these models. However, greater Anglo acculturation appears to mediate one fewer hour of sleep per night, poorer sleep quality, and reporting of severe difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep.

CONCLUSIONS

Among individuals of Mexican descent, being born in the USA (vs Mexico) is associated with about 1 hour less sleep per night, worse sleep quality, more insomnia symptoms, and less mild sleep apnea symptoms. These relationships are influenced by acculturation, primarily the degree of Anglo rather than the degree of Mexican acculturation.

Are Emotional Eating and Other Eating Behaviors the Missing Link in the Relationship between Inadequate Sleep and Obesity? A Systematic Review

Evidence is emerging to explain that the relationship between inadequate sleep and obesity could be influenced by emotional eating and other eating behaviors such as disinhibition. Therefore, our aim was to conduct a systematic review to analyze the potential role of emotional eating and other eating behaviors in the relationship between inadequate sleep and obesity. We conducted a comprehensive search on 2 databases (Medline and Scopus) looking for records from 1 January 2011 until 31 December 2022 without language restrictions. Cross-sectional, longitudinal, and interventional studies were included if they assessed the association between sleep and emotional eating, as well as the role of emotional eating on the relationship between inadequate sleep and obesity. Secondary outcomes included studies analyzing the link between sleep and other eating behaviors as well as their role in the sleep-obesity relationship. Our results showed that emotional eating and disinhibition play a significant role in the relationship between inadequate sleep and obesity, especially in women. Furthermore, we provide evidence of other eating behaviors (e.g., external eating, eating competence, and hunger), which are also associated with poor sleep outcomes. However, these behaviors do not seem to be determinants of the association between sleep and obesity. In conclusion, our results suggest that individuals with inadequate sleep who are prone to emotional eating and/or disinhibition may require tailored approaches for obesity prevention and treatment.

Association of vitamins with hearing loss, vision disorder and sleep problem in the US general population

Based on nationally representative samples from US, we aimed to assess the associations of vitamins with hearing loss, vision disorder and sleep problem. A total of 25,312, 8425 and 24,234 participants were included in this study to investigate the relationship of vitamins with hearing loss, vision disorder and sleep problem from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, respectively. Vitamins including niacin, folic acid, vitamin B6, A, C, E and carotenoids were considered in our study. Logistic regression models were used to assess the associations between all included dietary vitamin intake concentrations and the prevalence of specific outcomes. Increased lycopene (odds ratio [OR]: 0.904, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.829-0.985) intake was associated with a deceased prevalence of hearing loss. Higher dietary intake of folic acid (OR: 0.637, 95% CI: 0.443-0.904), vitamin B6 (0.667, 0.465-0.947), alpha-carotene (0.695, 0.494-0.968), beta-carotene (0.703, 0.505-0.969) and lutein + zeaxanthin (0.640, 0.455-0.892) were associated with a decreased prevalence of vision disorder. The inversely associations of sleeping problem with niacin (OR: 0.902, 95% CI: 0.826-0.985), folic acid (0.882, 0.811-0.959), vitamin B6 (0.892, 0.818-0.973), vitamin C (0.908, 0.835-0.987), vitamin E (0.885, 0.813-0.963) and lycopene (0.919, 0.845-0.998) were also observed. Our findings provide evidence that increased specific vitamin intake is associated with decreased prevalence of hearing loss, vision disorder and sleep problem.

Factors Associated with Dietary Restriction and Emotional and Uncontrolled Eating in Adults from Spanish-Speaking Countries during the COVID-19 Confinement: Results of the CoV-Eat Project

The first COVID-19 confinement has led to changes in the population’s behaviour. However, little has been analysed about the changes in eating behaviour beyond the decrease in adherence to healthy dietary patterns. The aim of the CoV-Eat project was to identify factors related to each of the following eating behaviours (EB): cognitive restraints (CR), uncontrolled eating (UE), and emotional eating (EE) in adults from Spanish-speaking countries. Participants completed an anonymous online survey. EB was assessed using the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire and the scores were classified into tertiles. Socio-demographic characteristics and lifestyle habits including physical activity, sleep quality, screen use, smoking consumption, and relationship with food were also collected. A total of 9849 participants from 21 countries were included in this study. The median of CR, UE, and EE behaviours was 15, 24, and 9, respectively. We observed that higher age, days of confinement, number of times leaving home in the last week, changes in sleep quality, and their relationship with food were negatively associated with CR, EE, and UE, while being a man was positively associated with an increased in all these EBs. A higher household income was negatively associated with a higher score of CR, and a higher education level (>primary) was positively associated with a medium score of EE. Lower physical activity was a factor negatively associated with a medium score of EE and UE. Higher screen use showed the same negative association for a medium score of EE and UE and a high score of CR. In addition, higher tobacco consumption was found to be a protective factor against having a medium or high score of CR and EE. In conclusion, some sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle changes may be important factors for EB and should be considered in emergency situations such as confinement to prevent risky eating behaviour.

The translational neuroscience of sleep: A contextual framework

Sleep is entwined across many physiologic processes in the brain and periphery, thereby exerting tremendous influence on our well-being. Yet sleep exists in a social-environmental context. Contextualizing sleep health with respect to its determinants—from individual- to societal-level factors—would enable neuroscientists to more effectively translate sleep health into clinical practice. Key challenges and opportunities pertain to (i) recognizing and exploring sleep’s functional roles, (ii) clarifying causal mechanisms in relation to key outcomes, (iii) developing richer model systems, (iv) linking models to known contextual factors, and (v) leveraging advances in multisensory technology. Meeting these challenges and opportunities would help transcend disciplinary boundaries such that social-environmental considerations related to sleep would become an ever-greater presence in the clinic.