Association of elevated glycated hemoglobin and obesity with afternoon napping for more than 1 h in young and middle-aged healthy adults

Overweight and obesity among Saudi university students and their relationships with various lifestyle habits: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

The primary aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of overweight/obesity among Saudi university students, while the secondary aim was to explore the associations of overweight/obesity and various lifestyle habits.

METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between January and March 2023. A random sample of 420 students aged 21-26 years was selected with a male-to-female ratio of 0.99:1. The data were collected using questionnaires and anthropometric instruments. The data were analysed using the chi-square test and forward stepwise binary logistic regression. Statistical significance was determined using a p value of less than 0.05.

RESULTS

The prevalence of overweight and obesity were 26.4% (95% CI: 22.3%, 30.9%) and 17.1% (95% CI: 13.7%, 21.1%), respectively. Furthermore, 53.6% of the female students were overweight or obese, while 33.5% of the male students were overweight or obese. The most significant predictors of overweight or obesity were female sex, smoking status, frequent consumption of meals at restaurants and university cafeterias, regular consumption of rice and chocolate (three or more times per week), and engagement in emotional eating in response to being upset/nervous or bored.

CONCLUSION

The study's findings revealed an alarming prevalence of overweight and obesity among Saudi university students. Unhealthy lifestyle habits, dietary patterns, and psychological factors have been identified as contributing factors to this issue. Consequently, universities should implement structured health promotion programs that include nutrition education, expanded access to fitness facilities, awareness campaigns on healthy eating, and targeted strategies for obesity prevention..

Napping and Obesity in Adults - What do we Know?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To review the evidence on the relationship between daytime napping and obesity.

RECENT FINDINGS

There is concern that napping may be harmful to metabolic health. Prospective studies have shown long time daytime napping (> 1 h) is associated with increased diabetes risk which may be partly associated with obesity. Evidence from numerous cross-sectional studies and meta-analyses of cross-sectional studies have shown that long time napping (> 1 h) but not short time napping is associated with increased risk of obesity, and this is seen worldwide. Inference regarding the nature of association from cross-sectional studies is limited; it is suggested the association is bidirectional. Prospective studies on the association between daytime napping and obesity are few and results unclear. Large longitudinal studies integrating daytime napping duration and night-time sleep behaviour and detailed information on lifestyle influences is needed to help elucidate further the associations of long time napping with obesity.

Elevated oxidative stress biomarkers in adults with segmented sleep patterns

STUDY OBJECTIVES

We investigated the association between different sleep patterns and inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in adults.

METHODS

A total of 321 consented adults who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were recruited in this cross-sectional study. The inclusion criteria were mainly based on apparently healthy adults aged 18-59 years. To identify sleep patterns, participants were requested to wear the actigraph for 1 week for 24 hours a day. Fasting blood was collected from each participant at day 8. The blood serum was analyzed for inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers. Sleep patterns were defined as monophasic (1 episode of night sleep) biphasic (2 episodes of sleep; night and aternoon siesta), and polyphasic sleep pattern (3 or more sleep episodes).

RESULTS

There was no correlation between night sleep duration, total sleep in 24 hours, and napping among inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers: high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, malondialdehyde, total glutathione, and basal oxidizability status. Actigraphy reports showed 3 sleep patterns in this cohort, monophasic (24.3%), biphasic-napping (45.2%) and polyphasic (30.5%). Individuals with segmented sleep patterns were significantly associated with oxidative stress biomarkers. A polyphasic sleep pattern was significantly associated with higher basal oxidizability status (P = .023), whereas a biphasic sleep pattern showed higher malondialdehyde (P = .036) as compared to a monophasic sleep pattern. Total glutathione was significantly higher in monophasic sleepers (P = .046). There was no difference in serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein among all sleep patterns.

CONCLUSIONS

Segmented sleep in polyphasic and biphasic sleep patterns is associated with higher serum malondialdehyde and basal oxidizability status in particular. Further studies are recommended on the cardiometabolic impact of oxidative stress biomarkers in individuals with segmented sleep.

CITATION

Al Lawati I, Zadjali F, Al-Abri MA. Elevated oxidative stress biomarkers in adults with segmented sleep patterns. J Clin Sleep Med. 2024;20(6):959-966.

Association between napping and type 2 diabetes mellitus

As the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing rapidly and its consequences are severe, effective intervention and prevention, including sleep-related interventions, are urgently needed. As a component of sleep architecture, naps, alone or in combination with nocturnal sleep, may influence the onset and progression of T2DM. Overall, napping is associated with an increased risk of T2DM in women, especially in postmenopausal White women. Our study showed that napping >30 minutes (min) increased the risk of T2DM by 8-21%. In addition, non-optimal nighttime sleep increases T2DM risk, and this effect combines with the effect of napping. For nondiabetic patients, napping >30 min could increase the risks of high HbA1c levels and impaired fasting glucose (IFG), which would increase the risk of developing T2DM later on. For diabetic patients, prolonged napping may further impair glycemic control and increase the risk of developing diabetic complications (e.g., diabetic nephropathy) in the distant future. The following three mechanisms are suggested as interpretations for the association between napping and T2DM. First, napping >30 min increases the levels of important inflammatory factors, including interleukin 6 and C-reactive protein, elevating the risks of inflammation, associated adiposity and T2DM. Second, the interaction between postmenopausal hormonal changes and napping further increases insulin resistance. Third, prolonged napping may also affect melatonin secretion by interfering with nighttime sleep, leading to circadian rhythm disruption and further increasing the risk of T2DM. This review summarizes the existing evidence on the effect of napping on T2DM and provides detailed information for future T2DM intervention and prevention strategies that address napping.