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Sleep duration and body-weight development during puberty in a Dutch children cohort

F Rutters1, W J Gerver, A G Nieuwenhuizen

  • 1Department of Human Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. F.Rutters@hb.unimaas.nl

International Journal of Obesity (2005)
|August 18, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Short sleep duration in children is linked to increased body mass index (BMI) during puberty. This study found an inverse relationship between sleep duration and BMI changes in a Dutch cohort.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric endocrinology
  • Sleep science
  • Obesity research

Background:

  • Short sleep duration is a known risk factor for obesity in both children and adults.
  • Understanding the relationship between sleep and weight gain during childhood is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between sleep duration and body mass index (BMI) across different pubertal stages (Tanner stages 1-5) in Dutch children.
  • To determine if this relationship persists independently of other factors.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 98 children from age 7 to 16 years.
  • Measurements included anthropometrics, leptin, body composition, physical activity, screen time, and self-reported sleep duration.
  • Genetic (FTO gene) and parental BMI data were also collected.

Main Results:

  • Significant sex differences were observed in various anthropometric and hormonal measures across Tanner stages.
  • An inverse relationship was found between changes in BMI and sleep duration from Tanner stages 1 to 5.
  • BMI increased while sleep duration decreased progressively with advancing Tanner stages, independent of confounders.

Conclusions:

  • Changes in body mass index during puberty are inversely associated with changes in sleep duration.
  • This relationship is independent of potential confounding factors, highlighting sleep as a critical element in pubertal weight management.
Abstract

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