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The Association Between Disordered Eating and Sleep in Non-Clinical Populations-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Marie-Christine Opitz1, Nora Trompeter2, Francisco Diego Rabelo-da-Ponte3
1Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Health in Social Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
Journal of Sleep Research
|June 30, 2025
Summary
Poor sleep quality and insomnia symptoms are linked to general eating pathology, loss of control eating, and excessive exercise in non-clinical populations. Evening chronotypes are associated with bulimia symptoms and body image concerns.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sleep Science
- Eating Disorders
Background:
- The relationship between sleep and disordered eating (DE) is complex, involving physiological and psychological factors.
- Existing research has not systematically reviewed DE behaviors and cognitions in non-clinical populations concerning various sleep indicators.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze the associations between sleep indicators and DE in non-clinical populations.
- To inform potential prevention and early intervention strategies for sleep and DE issues.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published from 2003 onwards.
- Inclusion criteria: assessed DE and sleep in non-clinical populations.
- 33 studies met eligibility for meta-analyses out of 89 included studies.
Main Results:
- General eating pathology, loss of control eating, and excessive exercise significantly correlated with poorer sleep quality and insomnia symptoms.
- Evening chronotypes were linked to bulimia symptoms, night eating, and body image concerns.
- Associations between restrictive eating, bulimia symptoms, and sleep duration were mixed or non-significant.
Conclusions:
- Sleep problems, including insomnia and poor sleep quality, are transdiagnostic correlates of DE concerns in non-clinical groups.
- Further longitudinal research using validated methods is needed, particularly for restrictive eating, bulimia-related behaviors, and excessive exercise.
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