10 Mar 2025 • A comprehensive analysis of data from 32,504 participants in the NHANES identified a significant link between higher Body Roundness Index (BRI) and an increased risk of sleep disorders.

Key Findings:

• The study found that for every unit increase in BRI, the prevalence of sleep disorders rose by 13% (OR = 1.13).
• Additionally, BRI was also associated with an 8% higher likelihood of depression (OR = 1.08). This relationship was nonlinear, with a breakpoint identified at a BRI value of 3.508.
• BRI outperformed traditional obesity indices, such as BMI, in predicting sleep disorder risk, with a higher area under the curve (AUC) of 0.637.
• Mediation analysis further revealed that depression played a partial mediating role, accounting for 14% of the association between elevated BRI and sleep disorders.

The study's findings highlight the complex interplay between obesity, depression, and sleep disorders, emphasizing the importance of managing visceral fat and addressing mental health in preventing sleep-related issues.

Source: BMC Psychiatry | Read Full Story