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The relationship between school day sleep duration and body mass index in Norwegian children (aged 10-12)

Yngvild S Danielsen1, Ståle Pallesen, Kjell M Stormark

  • 1University of Bergen, Faculty of Psychology, Christiesgt.12, P.O. Box 7800, 5020 Bergen, Norway. yngvild.danielsen@psysp.uib.no

International Journal of Pediatric Obesity : IJPO : an Official Journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity
|March 18, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Both short and long sleep durations are linked to higher body mass index (BMI) in children. Insufficient sleep in children is significantly associated with obesity, even after accounting for other factors.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Sleep Science
  • Obesity Research

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern.
  • Sleep duration is a modifiable behavior that may influence weight status.
  • Understanding the relationship between sleep and body mass index (BMI) in children is crucial for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between sleep duration and BMI in Norwegian children aged 10-12 years.
  • To explore potential confounding factors such as pubertal maturation and socioeconomic status.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based study involving 9,430 primary school children and their parents.
  • Questionnaire data collected on sleep patterns, pubertal development, socioeconomic status, and parent-reported child height and weight.
  • Body mass index (BMI) calculated for 4,158 children.

Main Results:

  • A U-shaped relationship was observed between sleep duration and age/gender-adjusted BMI.
  • Both shorter and longer sleep durations were significantly associated with higher BMI.
  • Children with the shortest sleep duration had a higher prevalence of obesity and overweight.
  • Short sleep duration remained significantly associated with obesity after adjusting for physical maturation and socioeconomic status.

Conclusions:

  • Both insufficient and excessive sleep are linked to elevated BMI in children.
  • Short sleep duration is a significant risk factor for childhood obesity, independent of pubertal development and socioeconomic factors.
  • These findings highlight the importance of adequate sleep for maintaining a healthy weight in children.
Abstract

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