LAUSR

Objectives: To examine the role of health behaviors (eg, physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and diet) in the relationship between sleep (ie, duration and quality) and BMI among African American adults. Design: A cross‐sectional self‐report questionnaire included questions related to health and health‐related behaviors. Setting: This study was based on data from the CHURCH study, which aimed to address cancer health disparities among church‐going African Americans in Houston, TX. Participants: African American adults were recruited from three large community churches. The sample included a total of 1837 participants (75.2% female; mean age 48.2 ± 13.7y; mean BMI 32.0 ± 7.5 kg/m2). Measurements: Linear regression models and path analyses controlling for demographic characteristics and depression estimated the associations between sleep and BMI as well as the mediating roles of health behaviors. Results: The average self‐reported sleep duration was 6.2 ± 1.5 h/night with 61%, 35.8%, and 1.6% reporting short (≤6 h/night), normal (7–9 h/night), and long sleep (≥10 h/night), respectively. Short sleep was related to greater BMI (b = 1.37, SE = 0.38, P = .01), and the relationship was mediated by sedentary behaviors (est. = 0.08, SE = 0.04, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.17). Conclusions: Short sleep and poor quality sleep was related to poor diet and physical activity‐related health behaviors, and BMI. The link between sleep and obesity is, in part, due to energy imbalance from increased sedentary behavior.