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The Causal Relationship Between Physical Activity and Sleep and Eating Disorders: Evidence From a Mendelian
Decheng Xu1, Zhiyuan Sun1, Kai Qi2
1College of Physical Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, JS, China.
Journal of Physical Activity & Health
|September 26, 2025
Summary
Physical activity (PA) may reduce the risk of sleep disorders. However, the study found limited evidence of PA influencing eating disorders, suggesting targeted interventions may be needed.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Genetics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Sleep and eating disorders pose significant global health challenges.
- The influence of physical activity (PA) on these disorders is not well understood.
- Investigating a potential causal link between PA and sleep/eating disorders is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if physical activity (PA) causally influences sleep disorders.
- To assess the causal relationship between PA and eating disorders.
- To provide evidence for public health strategies involving PA.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) data from a European population.
- Employed two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis with PA as the exposure.
- Applied inverse variance weighting, weighted median, and MR-Egger regression for robust analysis.
Main Results:
- A significant negative association was found between PA and sleep disorders (IVW: β = -0.004, P = .008).
- Trends suggested a negative association between PA and eating disorders, but results were not statistically significant (IVW: β = -0.375, P = .153).
- Sensitivity and heterogeneity analyses confirmed the robustness of the findings regarding sleep disorders.
Conclusions:
- Physical activity (PA) shows potential for reducing the risk of sleep disorders.
- The impact of PA on eating disorders appears limited based on current data.
- Further research is recommended to explore PA's specific effects on various health conditions.
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