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Relation between sleep duration and BMI varies by age and sex in youth age 8-19

A Storfer-Isser1, S R Patel, D C Babineau

  • 1Statistical Research Consultants, LLC, Perrysburg, OH, USA.

Pediatric Obesity
|March 22, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Sleep duration is linked to body mass index (BMI) in children, particularly boys. Shorter sleep in childhood predicts higher BMI later, with stronger effects seen in boys and younger children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Sleep Science
  • Obesity Research

Background:

  • Childhood and adolescent obesity are significant public health concerns.
  • Sleep duration is a modifiable behavior that may influence body mass index (BMI).
  • Longitudinal data are needed to understand the relationship between sleep and BMI across development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the association strength between sleep duration and BMI z-score (BMIz) across middle childhood and early/late adolescence.
  • To determine if childhood sleep duration predicts adolescent BMIz.
  • To examine sex differences in these associations.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal cohort study of 313 children/adolescents aged 8-19.
  • Three assessment points approximately 4 years apart (ages 8-11, 12-15, 16-19).
  • BMIz calculated using CDC data; sleep duration self-reported by adolescents (16-19) or parents (8-15).

Main Results:

  • A negative linear association between sleep duration and BMIz was observed in boys, decreasing with age.
  • Childhood sleep duration (ages 8-11) predicted adolescent BMIz in boys but not girls.
  • Childhood BMIz was the strongest predictor of adolescent BMIz for both sexes.

Conclusions:

  • The relationship between sleep duration and BMIz is sex- and age-dependent.
  • Stronger associations are evident in boys and during middle childhood compared to adolescence.
  • Early childhood BMI is a robust predictor of later BMI, irrespective of sleep duration.
Abstract

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