1Research Scholar, Department of Physiology, MMIMSR
2Prof & Head, Department of Physiology, MMIMSR
3Professor & Principal, Department of Medicine, MM(DU), Mullana, Ambala, India
Short sleep duration is a major risk factor for higher BMI and has been supported by much evidence from the past studies. Hypertension is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease in children as well as in adults. So in this study we aim to evaluate the effect of insufficient sleep duration on BMI as well as blood pressure in medical college students of MMIMSR, Ambala.
A cross-sectional study of 200 young medical college students of age 18–24 years were recruited randomly for this study. All the participants were assessed under similar laboratory conditions in the departmental research laboratory. Sleep pattern and duration were determined by using a validated Pittsburg sleep quality index(PSQI) questionnaire. Body weight and height were measured and BMI was calculated by using Quetelet index as BMI = kg/m2 where kg is a participant's weight in kilograms and m2 is their height in meters squared. Blood pressure was measured by using mercury sphygmomanometer.
Shorter sleep duration was highly significantly(p<0.01) associated with higher BMI and with higher SBP. Sleep duration was also significantly(p<0.05) associated with DBP in both male and female student participants.
Participants with relatively shorter sleep durations(<7hrs) had higher blood pressure reactivity and were either overweight or obese. Preliminary findings are consistent with the hypothesis that sleep duration may be one mechanism through which daily social stress influences BMI and long-term cardiovascular health.
Sleep duration, BMI, Blood pressure
