RESEARCH PAPER
Sleep-related behaviours and their associations with overweight, obesity and hypertension in adults
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1
Institute of Nutrition and Genomics, Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources,
Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Slovakia
2
Institute of Human Nutrition Science, Department of Human Nutrition, Warsaw University of Life Science, Poland
Submission date: 2026-02-03
Final revision date: 2026-03-19
Acceptance date: 2026-03-31
Online publication date: 2026-04-16
Corresponding author
Lucia Šubová
Institute of Nutrition and Genomics, Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 94976 Nitra, Slovakia
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ABSTRACT
Background: Sleep plays an important role in physiological regulation and has been increasingly recognised as a contributor to chronic non-communicable diseases, including obesity and hypertension. Objective: This study examined the relationships between sleep duration, sleep-related problems, and selected health indicators, including BMI (body mass index) and hypertension, and evaluated the prevalence of sleep-related difficulties, stress, and night-shift work in adults. Material and Methods: A total of 260 respondents (125 men, aged 42.24 ± 12.35 years; BMI 27.19 ± 4.3 kg/m²; and 135 women, aged 47.83 ± 11.72 years; BMI 26.57 ± 6.54 kg/m²) completed a 14-item questionnaire assessing sleep duration and quality, sleep-related problems, night-time awakenings, fatigue, stress, night-shift work and self-reported chronic conditions, including physician-diagnosed hypertension. Results: A significant association was found between insufficient sleep and overweight/obesity (p = 0.003), whereas no relationship was observed between sleep duration and hypertension (p = 0.232). Overall, 55% of respondents slept fewer than 7 hours, 35% slept 7-8 hours, and 10% slept more than 8 hours per night; overweight or obese individuals reported an
average of 6.2 hours of sleep. Sleep problems were reported by 35% of participants, but showed no significant association with BMI. Stress was reported by 53% of respondents and was significantly associated with higher BMI (p = 0.005). Night-shift work was reported by 51.8% of participants and was significantly linked to overweight/obesity (p = 0.039).
Hypertension was reported by 40.3% of respondents and was significantly associated with BMI (p < 0.0001), but not with sleep duration. Conclusions: Insufficient sleep, stress, and night-shift work were associated with increased BMI, while no association was found between sleep duration and hypertension. These factors should be considered when addressing weight-related health risks.