Sleep Quality and its Associations with Obesity Among Adult Patients Attending Primary Healthcare in Al-Madinah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

One-third of our lives are spent in an active physiological process called sleep. It is necessary to preserve optimal mental, emotional, and physical health [1]. The extent to which an individual is satisfied with their entire sleep experience is known as sleep quality.

Sleep quality refers to a range of aspects of sleep in sleep medicine. Metrics including total sleep time, sleep maintenance, sleep efficiency, sleep onset latency, total wake time, and occasionally sleep disorders like apnea or spontaneous arousal are also included [2,3]. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and the Sleep Research Society (SRS) recommend that healthy persons sleep for 7 or more hours every night regularly to maintain good health [4]. Disrupted or poor-quality sleep, as well as short sleep duration, have been associated with a variety of health issues, including cardiovascular disease and mental health disorders [5]. It has also been identified as a significant factor associated with obesity, an escalating global health concern [6].

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared obesity a pandemic, affecting individuals across all ages and socioeconomic groups[7]. Obesity is linked to a variety of chronic diseases and health disorders, including diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea, and osteoarthritis[8].

In Saudi Arabia (2023), the National Health Survey found that the prevalence of obesity among adults (\(\geq\)15 years) was 23.7%, with no significant gender differences. In contrast, 39.6% of females and 29.5% of males had normal body weight[9].Recent studies from Saudi Arabia have shown a high prevalence of sleep disturbances 44.4% among adults attending primary healthcare clinics in Jeddah, with significant associations with obesity (OR = 1.82) by Alqarni et al. (2022)[10].Mosavat, Maryam, et al. (2021) explored the potential processes underlying the sleep-obesity link, identifying hormonal imbalances (leptin, ghrelin), inflammation, and altered metabolic pathways as essential factors. Understanding these pathways is critical for developing targeted interventions[11].

Sleep quality and duration are modifiable risk factors, that are known to be associated with high body mass index and some lifestyle habits (e.g. physical activity, dietary habits, and smoking) [12,13] .Despite the known relationship between sleep and obesity, there is limited data available on this topic in the Saudi population. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between sleep quality and obesity, as well as the relationship between lifestyle behaviors (such as socio-demographic characteristics, smoking, and physical activity) and sleep quality among adults attending primary healthcare clinics in Al-Madinah.

This study will improve knowledge in this area and the results will be valuable for health providers to develop policies and programs that focus on improving the health status of people with obesity and promoting adequate sleep and eating patterns to prevent disorders.

A. Study Design

This research adopts a cross-sectional study design to investigate the relationship between sleep quality and obesity, as well as the relationship between lifestyle behaviors (such as socio-demographic characteristics, smoking, and physical activity) and sleep quality among adults attending primary healthcare clinics in Al-Madinah.

B. Study participants

The study was carried out at Al-Madinah Al-Munawaroh, the capital of Madinah Province in Saudi Arabia’s west. The estimated population as of 2020 is 1,488,782 [14]. this makes it the fifth most populous city in Saudi Arabia. Al Madinah Al-Munawaroh has a total of 53 PHCCs, organized among three health sectors. In addition to curative therapy, PHCs provide free comprehensive health services, and preventative care (vaccination, screening, prenatal care, health education, and public and environmental health) to all citizens and other eligible patients.

C. Inclusion criteria

The study targeted adult male and female patients aged between 18 to 65 years who attended primary healthcare clinics in the Ministry of Health (MOH), in Al-Madinah.

D. Exclusion Criteria

The Exclusion Criteria included all patients diagnosed with medical conditions such as hypothyroidism, Cushing syndrome, arthritis, and psychological issuesAdditionally, patients usingspecific medications like antidepressants, anti-seizure medications, antipsychotic medications, steroids, or beta-blockers, as well as Pregnantor lactating women, were excluded.

E. Sample size and sampling technique

The sample size was calculated using OpenEpi.com with an error of 5% and 95% CI, and the prevalence of sleep quality is unknown and considered as 50%. The estimated sample size was 384 patients. In addition, we added 10% to compensate for non-responders; the final sample size was 420 patients.A multistage random sampling technique was used as follows. Stage 1: we got a list of all primary healthcare centers in Al-Madinah (urban region) which was a total of 53 PHCs, Stage 2: we selected 12 primary healthcare centers by using a simple random sampling method, Stage 3: within the selected PHCs, patients were selected by using a systematic random sampling method (Every 2nd adult patient attending to clinic was enrolled in the study).

F. Questionnaire

Data collection from participants utilized a self-administered questionnaire comprising several components: socio-demographic factors (including age, gender, marital status, education level, household income, occupation), co-morbidities, and smoking habits. Anthropometric measurements were conducted at the Nursing screening station, including height and weight using a standardized stadiometer (DETECTO SCALE). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated by dividing weight in kilograms (kg) by height in meters squared \((m^2)\) and categorized according to World Health Organization guidelines [7], BMI < 18.5 (underweight), BMI 18.5 - 24.9 (healthy weight), BMI 25 - 29.9 (overweight), and BMI \(\geq\) 30.0 (obesity).

Data analysis categorized participants into three groups: Non-obese (underweight/healthy weight), Overweight, and Obese.Sleep quality was evaluated using a validated Arabic version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), assessing seven components: sleep quality, latency, duration, efficiency, disturbances, use of sleep medications, and daytime dysfunction. Scores ranged from zero to three for each component, with higher values indicating poorer sleep quality. A total score ranging from 0 to 21 was calculated, with a cut-off score of \(\leq\)5 indicating good sleep quality and >5 indicating poor quality. Internal consistency reliability for the PSQI was acceptable (Cronbach’s alpha = .65), supported by moderate to high correlations between its components and global PSQI scores (r = .53 to .82, p < .01)[15].

Physical activity was assessed using a validated Arabic short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), with participants recalling activities over the previous 7 days, including walking and moderate to vigorous activity. Frequency (days/week) and duration (hours and minutes/day) were recorded, with participants categorized as low, moderate, or high activity based on MET (Metabolic Equivalent of Task) minutes/week.

G. Data Collection

Data will be collected through structured questionnaires distributed electronically to participants From November 2023 to January 2024.

H. Data Analysis

Statistical analysis was carried out using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA), version 26. Frequencies and percentages were obtained for the categorical variables, while mean and standard deviation (SD) were calculated for the scale variables. The chi-square test was used to assess the association between the categorical variables and the outcome (poor sleep, and good sleep quality). Multiple logistic regression was employed to find the predictors of sleep quality and to control for confounders. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated to assess the strength of association between the outcome and variables in the model. P< 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

I. Ethical Considerations

Ethical approval obtained from the Institutional Review Board General Directorate of Health Affairs in Madinah National Registration Number with NCBE-KACST, KSA: (H-03-M-84) was issued approval - IRB Log No 23-094. All participants provided informed consent, which ensured the privacy and confidentiality of their data.

A total of 420 questionnaires were completed. The demographic and baseline characteristics of the participants are presented in Table 1.

The mean age (SD) was 36.69 (10.13%) years, ranging from 19 to 63 years. The majority were females (54.8%), married (67.6%), had bachelor’s degree (51.4%), and had an income of less than 15000SAR. About (45.5%) were overweight, (17.1%) were obese, and (37.4%) were non-obese. Moderate physical activity was reported by (59.8%) while low physical activity was reported by (39.3%) of the participants.

Table 2 & 3 summarizes the Association between demographic characteristics & Clinical and lifestyle characteristics of the participants and the quality of sleeping. According to the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the majority had poor sleep quality(74.3%), while 25.4% had good sleep quality.Factors associated with poor sleep quality in univariate analysis were older age (p<0.001), low education level (p<0.001), being retired (p=0.001) lower family income (p<0.001), being married(p<0.001), low physical activity level(p=0.008), having chronic diseases (p<0.001), and body mass index; Poor sleep quality was higher among obese (97.2%) and overweight participants (82.6%) compared to normal weight participants (54.5%), (p<0.001).

All the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index subdomains were also associated with body mass index of the participants; subjective sleep quality (p<0.001), sleep latency (p<0.001), (p<0.001),sleep duration (p<0.001), sleep efficiency (p<0.001), sleep disturbance (p<0.001), use of sleep medication (p<0.001), and daytime dysfunction as shown in Table 4.

Table 5 show the result of Logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the relationship between sleep quality body mass index and physical quality while controlling for other confounders in the study. All significant variables in the univariate analysis were entered into the analysis. The final model showed that after controlling for variables in the model, BMI remains a significant predictor of sleep quality among study participants. Overweight participants were 2.5 times more likely to have poor sleep quality compared to participants who were normal or underweight (OR= 2.5, 95%CI 1.2-5.0). Obese participants were 6.66 times more likely to have poor sleep quality compared to participants who were normal or underweight (OR= 6.66, 95%CI 1.31-23.33).

A good sleep pattern is extremely important for a person’s health and well-being. According to studies, a person usually needs 7-9 hours per night. However, global data indicate that a large proportion of the population lacks adequate sleep[2,4].

The main results of this study indicate that 74.3% of the study participants had poor sleep quality, and sleep duration decreases with age from 34 to 49 years. In addition, bachelor’s teens are more likely to have poor sleep quality. In addition, short sleep duration has been associated with an increased risk of overweight and obesity [11]. These findings are consistent with previous studies on the widespread nature of sleep quality and its associations with obesity among Saudi adults[16,17]. Factors such as marital status, old age, level of education, low family income, the presence of chronic diseases and smoking emerged as factors significantly related to poor sleep quality, which confirms the multifactorial nature of sleep quality.

Moreover, the study elucidated a robust association between obesity and poor sleep quality, with overweight and obese individuals exhibiting significantly higher rates of sleep disturbances compared to normal-weight counterparts (OR = 6.66, 95% CI 1.31-23.33). This finding highlights that insufficient sleep duration is an important factor in increasing the risk of obesity and is consistent with the results of several previous studies[10,15,16].

The results also show a correlation between lifestyle, such as body mass index (BMI) and physical activity, with sleep quality. The study found that participants with low levels of physical activity and high body mass index are more likely to have poor sleep quality. BMI effect was not significant (P =0.022) in the logistic regression model Table 5, this did not materially change the observed associations between sleep duration and obesity. Such findings agree with results of previous studies from different countries[ 4,5,10,11,17]. a study by (Öztürk, and Nurcan) conductedsimilarly found that individuals with obesity were more likely to experience sleep disturbances, suggesting a robust association across diverse populations[18].

Furthermore, our findings support the beneficial effects of physical activity on sleep quality, in line with existing literature demonstrating the positive effect of exercise on sleep patterns. Conversely, smoking appears to be a risk factor for poor sleep quality, consistent with previous research linking tobacco use to sleep disorders [4,10,18].

There are some limitations in this study. Despite examining many factors and variables that may influence sleep quality, other variables weren’t assessed such as the sleep environment, working nights, and napping during the day. In addition, the study’s cross-sectional design limits its ability to determine causation. Nevertheless, this study clearly shows the magnitude of poor-quality sleep and its association with several important factors.

The prevalence of poor sleep quality in our sample was notably high at 74.6 %. Many factors are strongly associated with poor sleep quality, including overweight/obesity, sociodemographic, and low physical activity levels. Healthcare providers in Almadinah should pay particular attention while assessing patients who suffer from sleep disturbance to raise public awareness of the importance of good quality sleep and the factors that affect it. Future studies should seek to examine the associations between diet, internet usage, academic achievement, and sleep quality.

The authors declare no conflict of interests. All authors read and approved final version of the paper.

All authors contributed equally in this paper.

1. Luyster, F. S., Strollo, P. J., Jr, Zee, P. C., Walsh, J. K., & Boards of Directors of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society (2012). Sleep: a health imperative. Sleep, 35(6), 727–734.
2. Nelson, K. L., Davis, J. E., & Corbett, C. F. (2022). Sleep quality: An evolutionary concept analysis. Nursing Forum, 57(1), 144–151.
3. Fabbri, M., Beracci, A., Martoni, M., Meneo, D., Tonetti, L., & Natale, V. (2021). Measuring Subjective Sleep Quality: A Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(3), 1082.
4. Watson, N. F., Badr, M. S., Belenky, G., Bliwise, D. L., Buxton, O. M., Buysse, D., Dinges, D. F., Gangwisch, J., Grandner, M. A., Kushida, C., Malhotra, R. K., Martin, J. L., Patel, S. R., Quan, S. F., &Tasali, E. (2015). Recommended Amount of Sleep for a Healthy Adult: A Joint Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society. Sleep, 38(6), 843–844.
5. Cappuccio, F. P., D’Elia, L., Strazzullo, P., & Miller, M. A. (2010). Sleep Duration and AllCause Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies. Sleep, 33(5), 585 592.
6. Chaput, J.-P., Dutil, C., &Sampasa-Kanyinga, H. (2018). Sleeping hours: what is the ideal number and how does age impact this? Nature and Science of Sleep, 10(10), 421–430.
7. WHO. (2021, June 9). Obesity and Overweight. World HealthOrganization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight
8. Haslam, D. W., & James, W. P. (2005). Obesity. Lancet (London, England), 366(9492), 1197–1209.
9. General Authority for Statistics, National Health Survey, Saudi Arabia (2023). Available online at https://www.stats.gov.sa/sites/default/files/Health-Determinants-Statistics-Publication-2023-EN_0.pdf
10. Alqarni, A. S. (2022). The effect of therapy on arousal from sleep in patients with respiratory sleep disorders.
11. Mosavat, M., Mirsanjari, M., Arabiat, D., Smyth, A., & Whitehead, L. (2021). The Role of Sleep Curtailment on Leptin Levels in Obesity and Diabetes Mellitus. Obesity facts, 14(2), 214–221.
12. Kline, C. E. (2014). The Bidirectional Relationship Between Exercise and Sleep. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 8(6), 375–379.
13. Cohrs, S., Rodenbeck, A., Riemann, D., Szagun, B., Jaehne, A., Brinkmeyer, J., Gründer, G., Wienker, T., Diaz-Lacava, A., Mobascher, A., Dahmen, N., Thuerauf, N., Kornhuber, J., Kiefer, F., Gallinat, J., Wagner, M., Kunz, D., Grittner, U., & Winterer, G. (2012). Impaired sleep quality and sleep duration in smokers-results from the German Multicenter Study on Nicotine Dependence. Addiction Biology, 19(3),486–496.
14. "Medina Population (2020)". world population review. com. Archived from the original on 18 March 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
15. Suleiman, K. H., Yates, B. C., Berger, A. M., Pozehl, B., & Meza, J. (2010). Translating the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index into Arabic. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 32(2), 250–268.
16. Al-Hazzaa H. M. (2007). Health-enhancing physical activity among Saudi adults using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Public Health Nutrition, 10(1), 59–64.
17. Al Zahib, Y. H., & Baarimah, H. (2020). Physical activity profile among Saudi adults in Abha City, Saudi Arabia. Middle East J Family Med, 7(37), 10-5742.
18. Öztürk, Meryem Elif, and Nurcan Yabancı Ayhan (2018). “Associations between Poor Sleep Quality, Obesity, and the Anthropometric Measurements of Women in Turkey.” Ecology of Food and Nutrition Vol. 57(1) : 3-12.