The effect of subjective sleep latency on BMI of medical interns during and before COVID-19 pandemic

OBJECTIVES: Longer subjective sleep latency and eveningness chronotype are associated with higher BMI. Moreover, COVID-19 lockdown changes have been associated with increased BMI. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of subjective sleep parameters on BMI of medical interns during and before COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed among medical interns. Bedtime, sleep latency, waking time, sleep duration, and reduced morningness-eveningness scores were evaluated. RESULTS: There was significant difference between bedtime before (00:11±50) and during (01:10±85) the pandemic in females (p<0.001). The mean circadian score before and during the pandemic showed significant decrease in females (p=0.011). The correlation between BMI with subjective sleep latency in females before and during the pandemic ((r=0.439, p=0.017), (r=0.422, p=0.014)) was significant. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a change toward nocturnal life among female medical interns. Subjective sleep latency was significantly correlated with BMI in females.