Correlation between body mass index and sleep patterns & duration among medical students

Abstract

Obesity and its associated risks are a leading public health concern. Sleep deprivation is speculated to boost appetite. Medical students are prone to sleep deprivation.a): To study Sleep duration & pattern of study population using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). b): To correlate between Body Mass Index (BMI) and Sleep duration & pattern among study population. Medicals students (n=247; males=133 & females=114) of age group 18-23years were properly examined to exclude those suffering from any major diseases, psychiatric problems, alcoholics or sleep medication. Height & weight were examined to calculate BMI and it was graded according to ICMR guidelines. Sleep quality & duration was assessed by a self-report questionnaire, PSQI. Pearson’s correlation was used to find the association among parameters. 41.3%(102) had overweight BMI of ≥23; 38.1%(94) had poor sleep quality with PSQI score >5 and 43.3%(107) are sleep deprived with sleep duration 5-6 hours. Analysis showed highly significant negative correlation bet ween BMI & sleep duration with ‘p’ value <0.01 and also highly significant positive correlation between BMI & PSQI score with ‘p’ value <0.01. It was found that with increase in BMI there is decrease in sleep duration as well as reduction in sleep quality which again leads to obesity as a vicious cycle. Hence proper education about sleep and life style modification is needed to medical students to prevent obesity and its associated comorbidities among them.