The Effect of Obesity Levels on Sleep Quality and Quantity

Obesity is increasingly prevalent in Taiwan. Obesity has been reported to be associated with different types of sleep problems (or disturbance), such as decreasing sleep time, reduction in sleep quality, and the development of sleep breathing disorders. The relation between obesity and sleep problem is proposed to be mediated by two appetite-related neuropeptides- leptin and ghrelin. Current studies are unable to clarify the casual relationship between obesity and sleep. In addition, the role of leptin and ghrelin on the development of obesity-related sleep disturbance is not fully explored, especially in Taiwanese population. This is a two-year study and is aimed to investigate the effect of different obesity levels on sleep quantity and quality among Taiwanese adults, by taking the proposed mediating hormonal factors- leptin and ghrelin into account. Two-hundred and forty participants will be recruited. Participants’ demographic, anthropometric, and serum leptin and ghrelin data will be collected during their clinical visits; perceived sleep quality, sleep quantity, and sleep pattern information will then be recorded for 3 days by using sleep diary and actigraphy. Descriptive (i.e. mean, standard deviation, percentage…etc.) and inferential statistics (i.e. one-way ANOVA, structural equation modeling, and multiple regression analysis) will be used to analyze the data. Questionnaire and protocol development, instruction calibration, and research assistant training will be completed in Year one. Approximately 100 subjects will be recruited at the first study year. Another 140 subjects will be recruited in Year two. Data analyses and report writing is scheduled in Year two as well. The study results will be helpful in knowing the physiological regulation of obesity and its effect on sleep, which may help to identify their causal relationship and to generate a feasible treatment for obese people who besiege with sleep disturbance.

Project ID:PC9808-0578
External Project ID:NSC98-2314-B182-044