Relationship between sleep quality and quantity and weight loss in women participating in a weight-loss intervention trial

Obesity (Silver Spring). 2012 Jul;20(7):1419-25. doi: 10.1038/oby.2012.62. Epub 2012 Mar 8.

Abstract

Evidence suggests that individuals who report fewer total hours of sleep are more likely to be overweight or obese. Few studies have prospectively evaluated weight-loss success in relation to reported sleep quality and quantity. This analysis sought to determine the association between sleep characteristics and weight loss in overweight or obese women enrolled in a randomized clinical trial of a weight-loss program. We hypothesized that in overweight/obese women, significant weight loss would be demonstrated more frequently in women who report a better Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) Global Score or sleep >7 h/night as compared to women who report a worse PSQI score or sleep ≤7 h/night. Women of ages 45.5 ± 10.4 (mean ± SD) years and BMI of 33.9 ± 3.3 (n = 245) were randomized and completed PSQI at baseline and 6 months; 198 had weight change assessed through 24 months. At baseline, 52.7% reported PSQI scores above the clinical cutoff of 5. Better subjective sleep quality increased the likelihood of weight-loss success by 33% (relative risk (RR), 0.67; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.52-0.86), as did sleeping >7 h/night. A worse Global Score at 6 months was associated with a 28% lower likelihood of continued successful weight loss at 18 months, but unassociated by 24 months. These results suggest that sleep quality and quantity may contribute to weight loss in intervention-based studies designed to promote weight control in overweight/obese adult women.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00640900.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Health Promotion
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Nutrition Surveys
  • Obesity / epidemiology
  • Obesity / metabolism
  • Obesity / rehabilitation*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk
  • Sleep Deprivation / complications*
  • Sleep Deprivation / epidemiology
  • Sleep Deprivation / metabolism
  • Sleep*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Weight Loss*

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00640900