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Suboptimal sleep duration and inadequate physical activity are associated with increased waist circumference and central obesity risk in Chinese adults

In a large Chinese cohort (106,518 participants), both short (<7 h/day) and long (≥9 h/day) sleep durations were associated with higher waist circumference and increased risk of central obesity compared to optimal sleep (7-<9 h/day). Joint analyses showed that individuals with inadequate physical activity and short sleep had the highest waist circumference and central obesity risk.

Last updated: Jul 10, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score34/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Joint Association of Sleep and Physical Activity with Central Obesity in Chinese Adults.

observational

Zhang YJ, Hu ML, Yang ZY, Li JX, Cao J, Chen JC, Liu FC, Huang KY, Li HF, Shen C, Hu DS, Liu XQ, Gu SJ, Yu L, Huang JF, Lu XF, Gu DF, Chen SF · Biomedical and environmental sciences : BES (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: N/A
Intervention: Sleep duration categories (<7 h/day, 7-<9 h/day, ≥9 h/day) and physical activity levels (adequate vs inadequate)
Outcome: Waist circumference (cm) and central obesity (odds ratio)
Effect Size: Short sleep: WC increase 0.15 cm (95% CI: 0.04, 0.27), central obesity OR 1.05 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.08); Long sleep: WC increase 0.27 cm (95% CI: 0.18, 0.35), central obesity OR 1.09 (95% CI: 1.07, 1.12)
Population: Chinese adults from the China-PAR project (106,518 participants, 175,373 observations)

Result:

PubMed: 42417231DOI: 10.3967/bes2026.034

Mechanism Graph

Suboptimal sleep duration disrupts metabolic and hormonal regulation
↓
Inadequate physical activity reduces energy expenditure
↓
Combined effects exacerbate abdominal fat accumulation
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Result: Increased waist circumference and central obesity risk

Limitations

  • ⚠Observational design cannot establish causality
  • ⚠Sleep duration was self-reported, which may introduce measurement bias
  • ⚠Potential residual confounding from unmeasured variables (e.g., diet, stress)

Frequently Asked Questions

What sleep duration is considered optimal for reducing central obesity risk?▼

The study found that 7 to less than 9 hours per day was associated with the lowest waist circumference and central obesity risk.

Can physical activity compensate for poor sleep in terms of obesity risk?▼

Yes, the study suggests that adequate physical activity can mitigate the detrimental effects of suboptimal sleep on central obesity.

What was the sample size of this study?▼

The study included 106,518 participants with 175,373 observations from the China-PAR project.

Is long sleep duration also harmful for central obesity?▼

Yes, sleeping 9 or more hours per day was associated with a higher waist circumference and increased risk of central obesity compared to optimal sleep.

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References

  1. 1.Zhang YJ, Hu ML, Yang ZY, Li JX, Cao J, Chen JC, Liu FC, Huang KY, Li HF, Shen C, Hu DS, Liu XQ, Gu SJ, Yu L, Huang JF, Lu XF, Gu DF, Chen SF. "Joint Association of Sleep and Physical Activity with Central Obesity in Chinese Adults.." Biomedical and environmental sciences : BES, 2026. PMID: 42417231 DOI: 10.3967/bes2026.034
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.