Is self-reported short sleep duration associated with obesity? A systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies

Abstract

Context: A possible association between self-reported short sleep duration and risk of obesity has been studied.

Objective: To analyze the association between sleep duration and obesity.

Methods: The LILACS, Medline, Central, Embase, and OpenGrey databases were searched from inception until July 2020. Two authors screened the studies independently according to the PECO strategy, as follows: participants: > 18 years old; exposure: short sleep duration; control: regular sleep; outcome: obesity). Only cohort studies were included. A total of 3286 studies were retrieved with the search strategy, but only 36 were included. Disagreements were resolved by a third author. The quality of studies was assessed with Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Form for Cohort Studies. The certainty of the evidence was assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation.

Results: Thirty-six studies were included, and 22 contributed quantitative data. Most of the studies (n = 27) assessed sleep by self-report. The meta-analysis showed a significant association between self-reported short sleep and development of obesity, and the chances of developing obesity increased when self-reported sleep duration decreased.

Conclusions: Self-reported short sleep was significantly associated with a higher incidence of obesity, with moderate quality of evidence.

Systematic review registration: PROSPERO registration no. CRD42019130143.

Keywords: meta-analyses; obesity; short sleep; systematic review.