0235 Sleep Duration and Timing Associated with Eating Behaviors: Data from NHANES 2015–2016

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Previous studies have shown that, in the laboratory, sleep deprivation leads to unhealthy eating patterns. In real-world samples, lack of sleep is associated with obesity. Few real-world studies of sleep and food intake patterns exist, especially from nationally-representative samples. Methods Data from the 2015–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used. NHANES is a national-representative survey collected by the CDC. N=6,291 participants provided data about dietary behaviors and sleep timing. Dietary behaviors included the number of meals not made at home in the past 7 days (NOTHOME), number of fast food/pizza meals in the past 7 days (FASTFOOD), number of pre-made meals in the past 30 days (PREMADE), and number of frozen meals in the past 30 days (FROZEN). Linear regression models examined these as outcomes and predictors including bedtime (minutes), waketime (minutes), sleep duration (hours), and daytime tiredness/fatigue (never, rarely, sometimes, often). Covariates included age, sex, education, income/poverty ratio, race/ethnicity, and body mass index. Results Number of meals not made at home (NOTHOME) was associated with a later bedtime (B=2.25, p=0.01) and shorter sleep duration (B=-0.12, p=0.01). FASTFOOD was associated with shorter sleep (B=-0.13,p=0.003) and tiredness/sleepiness sometimes (B=0.77, p=0.007) and often (B=0.55, p=0.03). FROZEN meals were associated with a later waketime (B=3.31, p=0.003) and tiredness/sleepiness sometime (B=1.20, p=0.025) and often (B=1.60, p=0.04). A sleep duration by bedtime interaction was not significant for any outcomes. In models that included overall levels of anxiety, these relationships were maintained. Conclusion This is one of the largest studies to show that habitual sleep patterns are associated with real-world food choices. In particular, shorter sleep duration and tiredness/sleepiness are associated with more ready-made and fast food meals. It is possible that lack of sleep leads to worse food choices, or that stress leads to both lack of sleep and easier food options. Given the often poor nutritive value of foods consumed outside the home and pre-prepared foods, these associations may in part explain the influence of sleep on cardiometabolic risk factors. Support Dr. Grandner is supported by R01MD011600