Association of Dietary Behaviors with Poor Sleep Quality and Increased Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Korean Military Service Members

Abstract

Purpose Sleep quality among military service members is important for enhancing their capabilities and preventing psychiatric problems. We aimed to explore the association of dietary behaviors with poor sleep quality and increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in military men on active duty. Patients and Methods A large-scale multi-site cross-sectional survey was conducted in five units of the Republic of Korea’s army. Poor sleep quality and increased risk of OSA were defined using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and Berlin Questionnaire, respectively. Information on dietary behaviors, including the frequency of skipping breakfast, eating snacks, consuming a night meal, and overeating, were collected. Results From August 2021 to September 2021, 4389 male respondents, mean age (20.8 ± 1.3 years), completed the survey; 2579 (58.8%) were assessed as having poor sleep quality, and 614 (14.0%) increased risk of OSA. After adjusting for lifestyle and occupational covariates, skipping breakfast 1–2 times weekly was associated with an increased likelihood of experiencing poor sleep quality, compared with not skipping breakfast (odds ratio: 1.23 [95% CI 1.02–1.47]). Eating night meals 5–6 times weekly was also associated with poor sleep quality (odds ratio: 5.54 [95% CI 2.49–14.18]). In addition, skipping breakfast daily (odds ratio: 2.28 [95% CI 1.27–4.03]) and eating night meals daily (odds ratio: 2.30 [95% CI 1.21–4.22]) were related to an increased risk of OSA. Conclusion Dietary behaviors appear to be related to poor sleep quality and a high risk of OSA. To improve sleep quality, dietary factors could be considered when promoting health programs for military personnel in further research.

Skipping breakfast and its association with sociodemographic characteristics, night eating syndrome, and sleep quality among university students in Bangladesh

“…Studies across the countries explored the correlation between sleep quality and breakfast skipping, shedding light on how the factors interplay in various population groups [ 43 – 46 ]. This study strengthens the evidence by showing that university students who reported poor sleep quality were three times more likely to skip breakfast than their counterparts.…”

“…This study strengthens the evidence by showing that university students who reported poor sleep quality were three times more likely to skip breakfast than their counterparts. The critical aspect of this connect is that sleep is linked to circadian rhythms, hormone regulation, and overall metabolic health, which in turn affect dietary habits [ 43 – 45 , 47 ]. Students are often stressed with academic works, irregular schedules, and cultural activities, disrupting their sleep patterns, leading to poor sleep quality among them [ 48 , 49 ].…”

Association between Sleep, Stress and BMI with Chrononutrition Behaviors among Military Personnel in Malaysia

“…In our study, only evening eating and night eating were significantly associated with sleep quality. Similarly, the frequency of snacking and irregularity of night eating among Korean military service members were associated with poor sleep quality (Choi et al 2022). In another study, late dinner was positively associated with poor sleep quality (Lopes et al 2019).…”

Sleep Quality and Its Predictors in Brazilian Marines

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“…This can culminate in a high prevalence of poor sleep quality among these professionals. 7 This inadequacy can induce negative physiological and behavioral effects, increase reaction time, and worsen performance in visuospatial tasks 8 increasing the chances of errors and accidents. It can also impact physical performance, aggravate injuries, generate cognitive impairment, and interfere with leadership, and the ability to make decisions and carry out planning.…”