The influence of sleep health on dietary intake: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of intervention studies

Abstract

Background: Poor dietary intake increases disease risk, and poor sleep influences diet. This systematic review and meta-analysis of intervention studies aimed to evaluate the effect of sleep health on dietary intake in adults. Methods: Five online databases were used to identify studies published between 1970 and 2019. Included studies were interventions that modified sleep and reported dietary outcomes. Results: Fifty four full texts were assessed and 24 publications were included. Following risk of bias appraisal, data were narratively summarised and a subgroup of studies (n = 15) was meta-analysed to determine the effect of sleep on dietary intake. One intervention modified sleep timing and 23 modified duration. Sleep duration was partially restricted (≤5.5 h night-1) (n = 16), totally restricted (n = 4), partially and totally restricted (n = 1), and extended (n = 2). Dietary outcomes were energy intake (n = 24), carbohydrate, fat, protein intake (n = 20), single nutrient intake (n = 5), diet quality (n = 1) and food types (n = 1). Meta-analysis indicated partial sleep restriction results in higher energy intake in intervention compared with control [standardised mean difference (SMD) = 0.37; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.21-0.52; P < 0.001], with a mean difference of 204 kcal (95% CI = 112-295; P < 0.001) in daily energy intake, and a higher percentage of energy from fat, protein, carbohydrate (fat: SMD = 0.33; 95% CI = 0.16-0.51; P < 0.001; protein: SMD = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.12-0.47, P = 0.001; carbohydrate: SMD = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.04-0.39, P = 0.014). Conclusions: Partial sleep restriction with duration of ≤5.5 h day-1 increases daily energy intake, as well as fat, protein and carbohydrate intake. Further research is needed to determine the relationship between other dimensions of sleep health and dietary intake.

Efficacy of a Multi-Component m-Health Diet, Physical Activity, and Sleep Intervention on Dietary Intake in Adults with Overweight and Obesity: A Randomised Controlled Trial

“…This may be because at baseline, both intervention groups reported sleep duration of ≈6.8 h per night, which was close to meeting the recommendation of 7–9 h per night for adults aged 18–64 years [ 68 ]. Relative to the much shorter sleep duration reported in meta-analyses that had an effect on dietary intake (≤5.5 h per night) [ 18 , 26 , 27 ], it may be that the participants’ sleep was not short enough and not improved enough during the intervention period to affect dietary behaviours (e.g., frequency of meals/snacks) and dietary intake. Furthermore, participants in the enhanced and traditional groups reported mean (SD) PSQI global scores of 7.3 (2.8) and 7.0 (3.1) at baseline, respectively.…”

“…The two intervention groups did not differ in sleep quality at 12 months, but the enhanced group was the only group to receive the sleep intervention, and it also had the largest improvement in sleep quality from baseline to 12 months. Given that sleep duration is related to sleep quality [ 67 ] and short sleep duration influences dietary intake [ 27 ], the improved sleep quality of the enhanced group may have contributed to the reduced intake of energy-dense nutrient-poor foods. Although to date, research has focused on how sleep duration and not sleep quality influences dietary intake, and further research is needed to clarify this.…”

“…Several experimental studies have reported elevated concentration of the hunger-stimulating hormone ghrelin and reduced concentration of the satiety hormone leptin in response to short sleep duration [ 23 , 24 , 25 ]. In terms of the increase in energy intake that can occur when sleep is insufficient, meta-analyses have reported an increase of 1059–1612 kilojoules (kJ) (253–385 kcal) per day in adults whose sleep was restricted to ≤5.5 h per night, compared with controls [ 18 , 26 , 27 ]. As such, increasing sleep duration among short-sleepers may contribute to reducing energy intake and improving energy balance [ 28 ] for enhanced weight loss.…”

Efficacy of a Multi-component m-Health Weight-loss Intervention in Overweight and Obese Adults: A Randomised Controlled Trial

“…Potential mechanisms linking sleep with weight regulation include reduced activity levels among people with short duration or poor quality sleep [ 10 , 11 ]. Shorter sleep duration (<5.5 hrs/night) is also associated with increased energy intake, greater likelihood to select energy-dense foods, and poorer regulation of hunger [ 12 , 13 , 14 ]. Additionally, having poorer quality, shorter sleep duration (<7 hrs/night), or sleep-disordered breathing at the start of a traditional weight loss intervention is associated with lower weight loss in intervention studies [ 15 , 16 ].…”

Sleep Quality and Duration in European Adolescents (The AdolesHealth Study): A Cross-Sectional, Quantitative Study

“…Several studies have demonstrated that a lack of sleep increases the possibility of gaining weight and suffering from obesity due to different mechanisms that affect food intake and energy expenditure [ 6 , 7 ]. Additionally, good sleep quality is known to be essential for maintaining correct metabolic health and lower cardiovascular disease risk [ 8 ].…”