Association between daytime napping and obesity in Chinese middle-aged and older adults

No studies have assessed the association between daytime napping and obesity in China. The study aimed to examine the association between daytime napping and obesity among Chinese middle-aged and older adults, and to evaluate the difference between the aforementioned association in men and women.

Overall, 14 685 participants aged 45 years and older were included by using data from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2015. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to investigate the relationship between daytime napping and obesity after adjusting for potential confounders. Stratified analyses were performed to examine the association differences by sex. Besides, the Cochran-Armitage test for trend was used to detect if there was a significant dose-response relationship between daytime napping and obesity.

The mean age of participants was 60.32, and the mean daytime napping duration was 38.97 minutes. In the sample, compared with no daytime napping group, the risks of being obese were higher in both moderate daytime napping group (1-60 minute/d) (odds ratio OR = 1.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.13-1.44) and extend long daytime napping group (>60 minute/d) (OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.15-1.56). In sex stratification, these significant correlations only existed in women but not in men. Compared with no daytime napping, women who napped 1-60 minute/d and over 60 minute/d were more likely to be obese (OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.18-1.59 and OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.23-1.81, respectively). Besides, the Cochran-Armitage trend test revealed that the prevalence rate of obesity increased as the daytime napping duration increased (P < 0.001).

The study established the relationship between daytime napping and obesity in a general Chinese population. The association, however, was only detected among women. Furthermore, there was a dose-response relationship between daytime napping and obesity among women. Future studies may verify this association by using a longitudinal design and focus on the mechanisms behind such association.