Associations of self-reported and actigraphy-assessed sleep characteristics with body mass index and waist circumference in adults: moderation by gender.
OBJECTIVE
Self-reported sleep duration has been linked to body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference in previous work; however, data regarding if these associations are stronger in men or women have been mixed, and few studies have objectively measured sleep. We investigated self-reported and actigraphy-assessed sleep characteristics in relation to BMI and waist circumference and examined the extent to which these associations differ by gender.


METHODS
Archived cross-sectional data collected from 2004 to 2006 from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) Biomarkers Study were used. Participants included 1248 adults (43% men) who reported their habitual sleep duration, and a subset of participants (N=441; 40% men) who underwent seven nights of wrist actigraphy.


RESULTS
Self-reported total sleep time (TST), actigraphy-assessed TST, and actigraphy-assessed sleep efficiency (SE) were inversely associated with BMI in the full sample of both men and women. Gender moderated associations between actigraphy assessments of sleep and anthropometric variables; however, TST and SE were related to BMI and waist circumference in women only. Associations between sleep and waist circumference were independent of BMI.


CONCLUSIONS
Sleep duration and sleep continuity are associated with body weight and distribution of body fat, but these associations were stronger or were only present in women.
The Miriam Hospital and Warren Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University, Providence, RI, United States.
Elizabeth J
EJ
Mezick
The Miriam Hospital and Warren Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University, Providence, RI, United States.
Rena R
RR
Wing
The Miriam Hospital and Warren Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University, Providence, RI, United States. Electronic address: JMccaffery@lifespan.org.
Jeanne M
JM
McCaffery
D056044:Actigraphy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D057566:Self Report; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014481:United States; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000502:physiology*
Actigraphy; Body mass index; Gender; Sleep duration; Waist circumference; Women