Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
Abstract (300 words maximum)
During pregnancy, women typically see a disruption in sleep and an abnormal amount of abdominal fat accumulation. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a relationship between sleep disturbance, quality or quantity and the accumulation of abdominal fat during pregnancy. METHODS: First-time pregnant women (N=25) were recruited from a local OB/GYN office. Participants (aged 27.2±4.5 years) visited the exercise physiology laboratory at KSU to obtain body composition measurements and sleep data between 17 and 21 weeks gestation. Overall sleep disturbance, quality, and quantity were assessed through a sleep disturbance survey. Six subjects failed the validity test for the survey and were excluded from the analysis. Ultrasound was used to measure abdominal fat in four locations: intra-abdominal adipose tissue (IAAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT 1), located 1 cm above the umbilicus, and preperitoneal adipose tissue (PAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT 2), located immediately below the xiphoid process of the sternum. Percent body fat was determined using the InBody720 Bioimpedance analyzer. Spearman’s Correlation analyses were used to assess relationships. RESULTS: Sleep disturbance was positively correlated with IAAT (ρ=0.781, p=0.001), PAT (ρ=0.662, p=0.007), SAT 2 (ρ=0.639, p=0.010), and percent body fat (ρ=0.710, p=0.001). Sleep quality was also positively correlated with IAAT (ρ=0.733, p=0.003), PAT (ρ=0.650, p=0.009) and SAT 2 (ρ=0.679, p=0.005), and percent body fat (ρ=0.658, p=0.005). Relationships persisted between sleep disturbance and IAAT even when controlled for overall percent body fat (ρ=0.580, p=0.001). However, when controlled for overall body fat, the relationship between IAAT and sleep quality weakened (ρ=0.504, p=0.079). Also, relationships were weakened between sleep disturbance and sleep quality with SAT 2 (ρ=0.257 and ρ=0.390, respectively, p=ns for both) and PAT (ρ=0.261 and ρ=0.303, respectively, p=ns for both) when they were controlled for overall percent body fat. CONCLUSION: There is a negative relationship between sleep disturbance and the accumulation of abdominal fat (IAAT) independent of the influence of overall adiposity. These results indicate that low sleep disturbance is strongly associated with lower abdominal fat during pregnancy.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
WCHHS - Exercise Science and Sport Management
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Katherine Ingram
Additional Faculty
Janeen Amason
Included in
Sleep Quality, But Not Quantity, is Associated with Reduced Abdominal Fat Accumulation During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, women typically see a disruption in sleep and an abnormal amount of abdominal fat accumulation. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a relationship between sleep disturbance, quality or quantity and the accumulation of abdominal fat during pregnancy. METHODS: First-time pregnant women (N=25) were recruited from a local OB/GYN office. Participants (aged 27.2±4.5 years) visited the exercise physiology laboratory at KSU to obtain body composition measurements and sleep data between 17 and 21 weeks gestation. Overall sleep disturbance, quality, and quantity were assessed through a sleep disturbance survey. Six subjects failed the validity test for the survey and were excluded from the analysis. Ultrasound was used to measure abdominal fat in four locations: intra-abdominal adipose tissue (IAAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT 1), located 1 cm above the umbilicus, and preperitoneal adipose tissue (PAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT 2), located immediately below the xiphoid process of the sternum. Percent body fat was determined using the InBody720 Bioimpedance analyzer. Spearman’s Correlation analyses were used to assess relationships. RESULTS: Sleep disturbance was positively correlated with IAAT (ρ=0.781, p=0.001), PAT (ρ=0.662, p=0.007), SAT 2 (ρ=0.639, p=0.010), and percent body fat (ρ=0.710, p=0.001). Sleep quality was also positively correlated with IAAT (ρ=0.733, p=0.003), PAT (ρ=0.650, p=0.009) and SAT 2 (ρ=0.679, p=0.005), and percent body fat (ρ=0.658, p=0.005). Relationships persisted between sleep disturbance and IAAT even when controlled for overall percent body fat (ρ=0.580, p=0.001). However, when controlled for overall body fat, the relationship between IAAT and sleep quality weakened (ρ=0.504, p=0.079). Also, relationships were weakened between sleep disturbance and sleep quality with SAT 2 (ρ=0.257 and ρ=0.390, respectively, p=ns for both) and PAT (ρ=0.261 and ρ=0.303, respectively, p=ns for both) when they were controlled for overall percent body fat. CONCLUSION: There is a negative relationship between sleep disturbance and the accumulation of abdominal fat (IAAT) independent of the influence of overall adiposity. These results indicate that low sleep disturbance is strongly associated with lower abdominal fat during pregnancy.