105 Sleep Behaviors Are Differentially Associated with Eating Behavior Characteristics Based on Sex

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Poor sleep health is a key determinant of obesity risk, largely explained by overconsumption of energy. Eating behavior characteristics are predictive of energy intake and weight change and may link sleep with risk factors for obesity. However, the relationships between sleep and dimensions of eating behavior, and potential individual differences in these relations, are not well characterized. Elucidating these relations may aid in the development of targeted strategies to mitigate obesity risk. Therefore, we aimed to 1) evaluate whether associations of sleep were related with eating behavior characteristics, 2) explore if these associations differed by sex. Methods This was a cross-sectional analysis of 179 adults aged 20–73 y (68.7% women; 64.8% with BMI≥25 kg/m2; 27.4% minority). Sleep was assessed over 2 wk using wrist actigraphy; eating behavior characteristics (dietary restraint, disinhibition and hunger) were measured with the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire. Linear regression models were used to evaluate associations of sleep with eating behavior characteristics, adjusting for confounding variables. In separate models, sex was added as an interaction term and analyses were stratified when interactions were significant (p<0.10). Results Variable (sleep midpoint standard deviation >60 min) vs. stable sleep timing was associated with greater tendency towards hunger (β=0.84 ± 0.39, p=0.03). When evaluated on the continuous scale, lower sleep efficiency (β=-0.13 ± 0.05; p=0.01), longer wake after sleep onset (β=0.03 ± 0.01; p=0.01) and higher sleep fragmentation index (β=0.074 ± 0.036; p=0.041) were associated with higher dietary restraint. Sex influenced associations of sleep efficiency, sleep onset latency, and sleep fragmentation index with hunger. In men, but not women, lower sleep efficiency (β=-0.15 ± 0.05; p<0.01), longer sleep onset latency (β=0.17 ± 0.07; p=0.02) and higher sleep fragmentation index (β=0.11 ± 0.04; p<0.01) were associated with greater hunger. Conclusion Objective measures of sleep were associated with eating behaviors previously linked with obesity and its risk factors. Moreover, we provide evidence of sex-specific associations between poor sleep and tendency towards hunger. Our results suggest that, particularly in men, differences in eating behavior traits may underlie susceptibility to overeating in response to poor sleep. Support (if any) Supported by NIH grants R01HL128226 and R01HL142648 and AHA grant 16SFRN27950012 (PI: St-Onge).