Dependence of «happiness level» in medical students on body weight and time of night sleep

The association between the level of happiness and body mass index, as well as the duration of night sleep in individuals with high and low levels of happiness were investigated. 36 medical students of the 5th year of the Faculty of Medicine were examined, (aged 27–29 years) former nurses and paramedics studying to become doctors. The subjects answered 20 questions on the level of happiness. The time of going to bed and the time of awakening were noted. The body mass index was determined anthropometrically. The range of happiness levels ranged from 41% to 100%. The average level of happiness was 76%. Doctors with a high level of happiness had an average of 87%, and doctors with a low level of happiness – 64%. The majority of people (53%) with a reduced level of happiness slept 4–6 hours, and the majority of people (69%) with a high level of happiness slept 7–8 hours. The body mass index in people with a reduced level of happiness averaged 26.0 kg/m², and in people with a high level of happiness – 21.7 kg/m². Lack of sleep (less than 7 hours of night sleep) promotes the accumulation of excess body weight (increases the risk of obesity) and reduces the level of happiness among medical students.