# Associations of Dietary Patterns and Physical Activity with Sleep Quality and Metabolic Health Markers in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea: An Exploratory Pilot Study

## TL;DR

This study explores how diet and physical activity affect sleep and metabolic health in people with sleep apnea, finding that eating behaviors and exercise influence outcomes.

## Contribution

The study introduces behavioral nutrition as a potential intervention for managing sleep apnea and metabolic health.

## Key findings

- Metabolic syndrome was independently associated with higher BMI and reward eating.
- Higher physical activity was linked to reduced odds of metabolic syndrome.
- Slow chewing was associated with reduced odds of severe sleep apnea.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is often accompanied by metabolic syndrome (MetS), forming a high-risk phenotype with elevated cardiometabolic burden. The contribution of lifestyle behaviors—particularly eating mechanics and psychological eating cues—to disease severity remains unclear. This study examined independent associations of dietary behaviors and physical activity (PA) with OSA severity, sleep quality, and metabolic health. Methods: Forty-four OSA patients (mean age 38.3 ± 9.1 years; 89% male) underwent attended polysomnography, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and metabolic profiling. Validated questionnaires assessed dietary behaviors, PA, and sleep quality. Hierarchical logistic regression identified predictors of MetS, severe OSA, and poor sleep quality. Results: The prevalence of MetS was 45%. Compared with those with OSA alone, participants with MetS demonstrated significantly greater central adiposity and more severe nocturnal hypoxemia, despite similar apnea–hypopnea indexes. In multivariable models, MetS was independently associated with higher body mass index (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.64; p = 0.008) and reward eating (aOR = 3.34; p = 0.041), whereas higher total PA was associated with reduced odds (aOR = 0.96; p = 0.026). Poor subjective sleep quality was significantly associated with younger age (aOR = 0.91; p = 0.037). For severe OSA, slow chewing was associated with significantly reduced odds (aOR = 0.24; p = 0.038), while emotional eating was associated with increased odds (aOR = 2.40; p = 0.048). Conclusions: This hypothesis-generating study identifies a high-risk OSA phenotype marked by metabolic dysfunction and hypoxemia. Eating speed (a proxy for mindful eating), emotional and reward-driven eating, and PA independently shape metabolic and respiratory outcomes. These findings support incorporating behavioral nutrition into multidisciplinary OSA management.