Relationship Between Sleep Quality and Overweight and Obesity in Women of Reproductive Age Referred to Health Centers in Yazd

Sleep plays a great role in maintaining health, and sleep deprivation inappropriately affects metabolic and endocrine function (1). Short sleep has become a hallmark of modern societies in adults and children in recent years. Sleep disorder and poor quality sleep are associated with chronic pulmonary hypertensive diseases which in turn are associated with lower quality of life (2). Chronic lack of sleep due to lifestyle changes is a common problem in a modern society (3). Short-term sleep disorder or sleep restriction leads to insulin resistance (1), and short sleep duration is associated with type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiac disease, obesity, and increased risk of overall mortality (4-6). The prevalence of obesity is increasing in the world. It is estimated that the number of obese people in the world was around 1.5 billion in 2012 and now is rising (7). In a review article by Flegal et al, the prevalence of obesity was 35.8% in women and 35.5% in men in the United States (8). In another review study, the prevalence of obesity was 6.2%-36.5% in women and 4%-28.3% in men in Europe (9). In a study by Moghimi-Dehkordi et al in Tehran, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 38.3% and 17.5%, respectively (10). Obesity has many social and medical outcomes and increases health care costs (11). Short sleep duration is mentioned as a risk factor for weight gain and obesity (12). According to hypotheses regarding the relationship between reduced sleep and obesity, sleep deprivation leads to hormonal changes and hence increases appetite and food intake (13,14). Sleep disorders affect neurohormones resulting in increased caloric intake which may decrease physical activity. Chronic sleep deprivation also causes fatigue and reduced physical activity in individuals. Therefore, sleep duration and quality is associated with obesity (15). Interrupted sleep in young adults results in metabolic and endocrine changes such as reduced glucose tolerance, Abstract Objectives: The present study aimed at determining the relationship between sleep quality and overweight and obesity in women of reproductive age referred to health centers and bases in Yazd in 2014-2015. Materials and Methods: A total of 450 women of reproductive age with a body mass index (BMI) of >18.5 were participated in this study and divided into 3 equal groups (n = 150) of normal weight, overweight, and obese. Instruments used in this study were the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and a socio-demographic questionnaire. Data from the questionnaires were completed by the participants and analyzed using statistical methods. Results: In this study, 66% of normal weight women of reproductive age had an acceptable sleep quality, while 77% of overweight and 93% of obese women of reproductive age had poor sleep quality, respectively. The results of this study showed that a significant correlation existed between BMI of normal weight women of reproductive age and the components of sleep quality (P = 0.001). An inverse significant relationship was also found between BMI of overweight women of reproductive age and the components of sleep quality (P < 0.05) and finally, an inverse significant relationship was also found between BMI of obese women of reproductive age and the components of sleep quality (P < 0.05). A significant relationship also existed between socio-demographic and components of sleep quality (P < 0.05). It seems that among the components of sleep quality, the effect of sleep disorder, impaired daily functioning, and consumption of hypnotic drugs was higher than sleep duration and good sleep in overweight and obesity. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that women of reproductive age with overweight and obesity have poor sleep quality. Among components of sleep quality, sleep disorder, impaired daily functioning, and consumption of hypnotic drugs have the most important role in reducing sleep quality. It seems that change in lifestyle can improve sleep quality and thus can reduce BMI.