Sleep duration, general and abdominal obesity, and weight change among the older adult population of Spain

Background: Short sleep duration is associated with obesity and weight gain among children and young adults. However, there are few studies on the elderly, with conflicting results. Objective: We examined the association of habitual sleep duration with obesity and weight change among the population aged >= 60 y in Spain. Design: This prospective study was conducted from 2001 to 2003 on 3576 persons whose habitual sleep duration was self-reported in 2001. The outcomes were obesity [body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)) >= 30], severe obesity (BMI >= 35), and abdominal obesity (waist circumference > 102 cm in men and >88 cm in women) in 2001 and weight gain 5 kg in the period 2001-2003. Results: Compared with subjects who slept 7 h, subjects who slept :55 h had a greater frequency of obesity [odds ratio (OR): 1.33; 95% Cl: 1.00, 1.77] and severe obesity (OR: 2.08; 95% CI: 1.31, 3.32). In addition, sleeping 8 h was associated with obesity (OR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.75) and severe obesity (OR: 1.82; 95% Cl: 1.21, 2.73). Similarly, subjects sleeping 9 h were more likely to have severe obesity (OR: 1.57; 95% Cl: 1.00, 2.47). Among women, weight gain :5 kg was more frequent among subjects sleeping : 5 h (OR: 3.41; 95% CI: 1.34,8.69),8 h (OR: 3.03; 95% CI: 1.29,7.12), and 9 h (OR: 3.77; 95% Cl: 1.55, 9.17). No association was observed between sleep duration and abdominal obesity. Conclusions: Among older adults, sleeping <= 5 h and sleeping 8 or 9 h was associated with obesity and with short-term weight gain in women.