RESUMO
Nocturnal sleep patterns maybe a contributing factor for the epidemic of obesity. Epidemiologic and experimental studies have reported that sleep restriction is an independent risk factor for weight gain and obesity, but has not been explored this association in elderly. The objetive is to determine the association between the sleep durationand obesity in elderly Chilean autonomous.1,706 AM autonomous 59.9% women, of the city of Santiago, of Chile, was applied to each survey dream of Pittsburg and anthropometric evaluation.84.0% of the elderly population sleeps less than recommended. Sleeping less hours than recommended is associated with an increased risk of obesity. (OR=1,49 (IC95% 1.04 - 2.13)) However, without adjusting for tobacco and medicine consumption, this association loses, its significance ((OR=1,50 (IC95% 0,95-2,38)). An association between less sleep hours and an increased risk of obesity in the autonomous elderly is observed.