A study conducted in The Netherlands aimed to investigate the relationship between eating disorders, body mass index, sleep disorders, and daytime functioning, publishes Dovepress.

Recent studies examined the relationship between sleep, weight status, and eating habits in the general population. In a 6-year longitudinal study, Chaput et al20 demonstrated that higher scores on a binge-eating scale significantly increased the risk of overeating and weight gain in those with short sleep duration. In another study looking at undergraduate students, scores on the Eating Attitudes Test-40 questionnaire were significantly related to scores on two questions on difficul- ties of initiating and maintaining sleep.21,22 Unfortunately, the presence of specific sleep disorders such as insomnia was not verified by screening questionnaires or formal diagnosis. Another study revealed that 42 out of 65 patients with EDs (64.4%) reported ‘sleeping poorly’. Also in this study, no screening questionnaire or formal diagnosis of sleep disorders were conducted.23

Taken together, although a relationship between EDs and sleep disorders has been shown, most research did not actu- ally screen or diagnose for specific sleep disorders. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to investigate the relation- ship between ED symptoms and the presence and severity of specific sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, circadian rhythm disorder (CRD), and insomnia. Additionally, this study will assess the effect that EDs and sleep disorders have on daytime functioning.

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