Poor sleep in one partner can affect both partners' diets, new study finds
Poor sleep is known to lead to poor diet quality. But as a new Concordia-led study of cohabiting couples shows, poor sleep can affect not only an individual's food choices but also their partner's choices. Because couples who sleep together often eat together, one partner's unhealthy food choices can have a ripple effect on the other's eating habits, the researchers say.
A new study led by Concordia University reveals that poor sleep in one partner can negatively impact their partner's diet choices. The research, published in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine, found that sleep-deprived individuals were less likely to stick to healthy eating goals, felt less confident in their ability to maintain a healthy diet, and were more likely to consume unhealthy, calorie-dense foods like crackers, chips, chocolate, and candy.
The study involved 204 cohabiting couples in Canada who completed questionnaires about their sleep and diet habits over three months. On average, participants were 42 years old, and at least one person in each couple was overweight or obese. Despite the findings, the researchers emphasize that the study does not prove that poor sleep causes unhealthy eating habits, and they recommend future research using objective measures to track sleep and diet.
The team suggests that improving one partner's sleep quality could potentially lead to healthier eating habits for both individuals, highlighting the importance of addressing sleep as a shared concern within relationships.
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