Beyond sleep duration: Sleep timing as a risk factor for childhood obesity

Abstract

Background: Ample evidence attests to the relationship between short sleep duration, sleep problems and childhood obesity. However, few studies have examined the association between sleep timing and obesity in children. Objectives: To investigate how sleep duration, problems and timing relate to obesity and obesogenic behaviours in children. Methods: Eighty-five children (58.8% girls) with severe obesity and mean (SD) age of 12.1 (2.9) years, were matched by age and sex with peers with normal weight (n = 85,12.0 [2.8] years). Sleep and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were measured via accelerometer for seven consecutive days. Children self-reported emotional eating on the Dutch eating behavior questionnaire. Parents reported children's screen time and sleep problems. Results: Children with severe obesity had significantly later mean mid-sleep time, overall (36 minutes later, P < .001), on school nights (36 minutes later, P < .001) and weekend nights (39 minutes later, P = .002) compared to children with normal weight. Children with obesity had more sleep problems (P = .030), but no differences emerged in sleep duration or social jetlag. After adjusting for demographic factors, mid-sleep time was positively related to screen time (P = .030). Mid-sleep time and sleep duration were inversely related to time in MVPA (Ps ≤ .041). There were no other significant associations between the sleep variables and the obesogenic behaviours. Conclusions: Later sleep timing was related to obesogenic behaviours in children and may represent an obesity risk factor.

Independent associations of sleep timing, duration and quality with adiposity and weight status in a national sample of adolescents: the UK Millennium Cohort Study

“…A small number of studies have reported that later bed and sleep onset times are independently associated with higher BMI z-score [7, 8], waist circumference and percent body fat [8], overweight and obesity [7, 9], and obesity severity in adolescents [10]. This is the first study to report sex-specific associations in a large and nationally representative sample of adolescents.…”

“…Sleep is a multidimensional construct of partly overlapping dimensions, and it is increasingly recognised that that parameters such as sleep timing and quality may be influential with regards to health [6]. A small number of studies have found that later bed and sleep onset times are associated with higher body mass index (BMI) z-score [7, 8], waist circumference and percent body fat [8], overweight and obesity [7, 9], and obesity severity in adolescents [10]. Sleep quality encompasses an array of continuity and architecture features [11].…”

Independent associations of sleep timing, duration and quality with adiposity and weight status in a national sample of adolescents: The UK Millennium Cohort Study

“…Sleep is a multidimensional construct of partly overlapping dimensions, and it is increasingly recognised that parameters such as sleep timing and quality may also be influential with regards to health (Miller et al, 2015). A small number of studies have found that later bed and sleep onset times are associated with higher body mass index (BMI) z ‐score (Jarrin et al, 2013; Olds et al, 2011), waist circumference and percent body fat (%BF; Jarrin et al, 2013), overweight and obesity (Olds et al, 2011; Skjåkødegård et al, 2021), and obesity severity in adolescents (Hayes et al, 2018). Sleep quality encompasses an array of continuity and architecture features (Ohayon et al, 2017).…”

Social Jetlag Is Associated With Impaired Metabolic Control During a 1-Year Follow-Up

“…Factors related to food intake, such as changes in meal distribution throughout the day (Garaulet et al, 2013;Mota et al, 2019) and/or type of food consumed (Silva et al, 2016;Cetiner et al, 2021), and physical activity pattern (Rutters et al, 2014;Alves et al, 2017) may also explain weight change due to circadian disturbances. Other studies have failed to find associations between SJL and anthropometric parameters (Rutters et al, 2014;Alves et al, 2017;Skjakodegard et al, 2021). However, social jetlag was found to be associated with percentage weight loss, body weight loss (kg) and BMI reduction in bariatric patients 6 months after surgery (Carvalho et al, 2021).…”