Association between eating disorders and sleep duration among college students: Findings from the National Healthy Minds study

• Published in: Journal of American college health Vol. 73; no. 1; pp. 399 - 405
• Main Authors: Abanobi, Amarachi N., Itacy, Sarah, Coleman, Chad M., Harlow, Bernard L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 2025; Taylor & Francis Inc
• Subjects: Academic achievement; Adolescent; Adult; Anorexia; Binge eating; Binge eating disorder; Bulimia; Bulimia nervosa; College students; Depression - epidemiology; depression diagnosis; depression symptoms; Eating disorders; eating disorders (Anorexia Nervosa; Feeding and Eating Disorders - epidemiology; Feeding and Eating Disorders - psychology; Female; Gender identity; Humans; Male; Sleep; Sleep Duration; Students - psychology; Students - statistics & numerical data; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors; United States - epidemiology; Universities - statistics & numerical data; Young Adult; United States; depression diagnosis; sleep duration; depression symptoms; College students; Binge eating disorder; Bulimia nervosa; eating disorders (Anorexia Nervosa
• ISSN: 0744-8481; 1940-3208; 1940-3208
• DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2023.2225616

Explore associations between eating disorders (EDs) and sleep duration and the impact of depression symptoms (DSs) in American college students. College students from 2018 to 2019 Healthy Minds Study. Multivariate logistic regression evaluated associations between EDs (bulimia, anorexia, binge eating [BED]) and sleep duration. Stratified analyses assessed effect modification by DSs and gender. Students reporting any eating disorder had no greater risk of not recommended sleep duration during weekdays compared to those with no eating disorder history (Adjusted OR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.89-1.13). However, subjects reporting BED were at greater risk of deficient sleep during weekends compared to those with no EDs (Adjusted OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.01-1.58). This association was not impacted by DSs. However, all EDs were associated with not-recommended sleep duration among those who identified as other gender identity in comparison to those with no EDs. Health educators should monitor academic performance in students with EDs for adequate sleep duration.