Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026
Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
Published on: January 29, 2018
Sleep duration and body mass index in 0-7-year olds
Harriet Hiscock1, Katherine Scalzo, Louise Canterford
1Centre for Community Child Health, Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, Vic 3052, Australia. harriet.hiscock@rch.org.au
Insights
In children aged 0-7 years, sleep duration did not predict body mass index (BMI) or obesity. Similarly, BMI did not predict sleep duration, suggesting sleep interventions for childhood obesity may be premature.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Obesity Research
- Sleep Science
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern.
- Understanding the relationship between sleep and body mass index (BMI) in children is crucial for developing effective interventions.
- Previous research has yielded mixed results regarding the bidirectional relationship between sleep duration and BMI in early life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cross-sectional associations between body mass index (BMI) and sleep duration in children aged 0-7 years.
- To determine if sleep duration predicts later BMI in children.
- To examine if BMI predicts later sleep duration in children.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, Waves 1 and 2.
- Included infants (0-1 years) and children (4-5 years) followed up at ages 2-3 and 6-7 years, respectively.
- Assessed body mass index (BMI) and sleep duration via time-use diaries, with parent-reported sleep problems.
Main Results:
- No significant association was found between obesity and sleep duration in children aged 0-5 years.
- Obese children aged 6-7 years slept approximately 30 minutes less than their non-obese peers.
- Sleep duration at Wave 1 did not predict BMI at Wave 2, and BMI at Wave 1 did not predict sleep duration at Wave 2.
Conclusions:
- Sleep duration does not appear to predict obesity in children up to age 6-7 years.
- The findings suggest that current interventions targeting sleep to manage childhood obesity may be premature.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the complex interplay between sleep and weight status in early childhood.
Objectives:
To determine in children aged 0-7 years (1) cross-sectional relationships between body mass index (BMI) and sleep duration, and whether (2) sleep duration predicts later BMI and/or (3) BMI predicts later sleep duration.
Design:
Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, Waves 1 and 2.
Participants:
Infants aged 0-1 years (Wave 1), followed at age 2-3 years (Wave 2); children aged 4-5 years (Wave 1), followed at age 6-7 years (Wave 2).
Main Outcome Measures:
BMI, sleep duration by time-use diary, parent-reported sleep problems (none/mild vs moderate/severe).
Analyses:
Cross-sectional, ANOVA (sleep duration) and χ(2) (sleep problems); longitudinal, linear regression.
Results:
3857 (76%) infants and 3844 (77%) children had BMI and sleep data. At every wave, approximately 15% and 5% of children were overweight and obese, respectively. Obesity was not associated with sleep duration at 0-1, 2-3 or 4-5 years, though obese 6-7-year olds slept approximately 30 min less (p<0.001). Sleep problems were similar across BMI categories at all ages. Wave 1 sleep duration did not predict Wave 2 BMI, nor did Wave 1 BMI predict Wave 2 sleep duration.
Conclusions:
In these large child population cohorts, sleep duration did not predict obesity up to age 6-7 years. Current trials of sleep interventions to prevent or manage obesity in young children may be premature.
