Sleep Quality and Body Mass Index in College Students: The Role of Sleep Disturbances

Abstract

Objective: Obesity and its comorbidities have emerged as a leading public health concern. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and sleep patterns, including duration and disturbances. Methods: A convenience sample of 515 college students completed an online survey consisting of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and self-reported height and weight to calculate BMI. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed using components of the PSQI as predictors of overweight (BMI ≥ 25). Results: One-third of the participants had BMI ≥ 25, and 51% were poor-quality sleepers (PSQI > 5). Controlling for age and sex, only sleep disturbances were associated with overweight (odds ratio = 1.66, 95% confidence interval [1.08, 2.57]). Conclusions: Sleep disturbances, rather than sleep duration, predicted overweight among young adults; this is consistent with the most recent evidence in the literature. These findings support expanding the scope of wellness programs to promote healthy sleep among students.

Keywords:

• body mass index (BMI)
• college students
• habits
• overweight
• prevalence
• sleep
• sleep disturbance
• sleep duration
• sleep quality

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We want to acknowledge the contribution of Dr Oksana Kozhevnikova as well as Tracie Knight, Michael Duhaime, Donna Fendon, and Mikaela Durfey in the design of the study questionnaire and management of data collection.

FUNDING

Partial support for Dr Vargas was provided by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health (NIMHD/NIH), award P20 MD002316-07 (F. Marsiglia, Principal Investigator). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIMHD or the NIH.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of the United States and received approval from the Institutional Review Board of Arizona State University.

NOTE

For comments and further information, address correspondence to Perla A. Vargas, Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center and School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Arizona State University, 4701 W Thunderbird Road, MC 3051, Glendale, AZ 85306-4908, USA (e-mail: [email protected]).