The impact of insomnia symptoms on obesity among Mexicans aged 50 and older

Abstract

Objective. To examine the association between insomnia and obesity in Mexican adults aged 50 and older. Materials and methods. We used data from the Mexican Health and Aging Study (2015-2018). Self-reported insomnia was measured using the modified insomnia severity index with scores ranging from zero to six. Obesity was categorized using body mass index (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2). We used generalized estimating equations to assess the association between insomnia and obesity over three years. Results. Insomnia was associated with obesity (odds ratio [OR]: 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01,1.11), among those with no obesity at baseline. Among those with obesity, insomnia was not associated with changes in BMI. Lastly, obesity was not associated with changes in insomnia symptoms. Conclusion. This work highlights the association between insomnia and obesity among older Mexican adults and demonstrates the importance of further studies on the effects of insomnia within this population.