Sleep Disorders and Obesity in Saudi Populations Across the Lifespan: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Obesity and sleep issues are pressing health challenges that are closely tied together. Poor sleep can lead to weight gain, and in turn, obesity can make sleep problems worse. In Saudi Arabia, lifestyle habits—like having late-night meals, excessive screen time, and a lack of physical activity—might worsen these relationships at every age. Objectives: This review explores the relationship between obesity and sleep disorders across different stages of life in Saudi populations. Methods: We conducted a systematic review following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. From December 2023 to March 2024, we searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect for English-language observational studies related to obesity and sleep among Saudi populations. We evaluated the risk of bias using the ROBINS-I tool. Results: We included fourteen studies, involving 14,876 participants (49.8% male). The findings consistently indicated that obesity is linked to poor sleep quality, shorter sleep duration, insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness, and breathing issues during sleep such as obstructive sleep apnea. Most studies showed a moderate risk of bias, mainly due to their cross-sectional designs and reliance on self-reported sleep data. Conclusions: Obesity and sleep disturbances are closely linked across all age groups in Saudi Arabia. Most studies reported associations between higher body weight and poorer sleep outcomes, including shorter duration, lower quality, and increased risk of sleep-disordered breathing. These findings underscore the need for age-specific public health strategies that encourage healthy sleep habits and lifestyle behaviors. Limitations: Variability in measurement methods across studies prevented us from conducting a meta-analysis. Funding/Registration: No funding; review not registered.

Affiliated Institutions

• Northern Border University SA
• Islamic University of Madinah SA
• Taibah University SA

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