Influence of body composition on sleep in people who exercise

Abstract

Study objective: Epidemiological studies have shown an inverse relationship between sleep duration and body mass index. Respiratory sleep problems are also correlated with abdominal adiposity and fat mass indicators. We analyzed if body fat has influence on sleep duration and quality, according to percentiles, gender and exercise. Methods: An observational, descriptive, retrospective study with 264 subjects from different sports clubs and gyms inthe Community of Madrid was conducted. Anthropometric measurements (weight, height, BMI, body fat %, fat free mass, waist circumference, basal metabolic rate) and a questionnaire, including medical history, eating habits, sleep and exercise items, were taken. Different percentiles for body fat % were calculated according to gender and age. Participants were classified into three groups: percentile>45, between 45-55 and percentile >55. Data analysis wasperformed with SPSS® 20 software. Quantitative variables were presented as mean±;standard-deviation; qualitative variables as absolute frequencies and percentages.Results: Men and women slept the same number of hours and had similar body fat % ercentiles. No relationship between body fat and sleep quality was found. Subjects with percentile >55 had longer sleep duration than percentile <45 and 45-55. Conclusion: Body composition influences n sleep, being worse in individuals with obesity and better in individuals who exercise.