Sleep timing and longitudinal weight gain in 4- and 5-year-old children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Obesity Research
• Sleep Science

Background:

• Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern.
• Short night-time sleep duration is a potential contributing factor to pediatric obesity.
• Understanding the relationship between sleep timing and weight is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the association between sleep timing (bedtime and waketime) and weight gain in 4- to 5-year-old children.
• To identify specific sleep patterns linked to increased risk of obesity and weight gain.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for pediatricians regarding sleep and weight management.

Main Methods:

• Utilized cross-sectional and longitudinal regression analyses on a nationally representative sample from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort.
• Assessed weekday sleep timing and duration via parent questionnaires.
• Defined short sleep duration, late bedtime, and early waketime based on deviations from the group mean.

Main Results:

• Short sleep duration at ages 4 and 5, and later bedtime at age 5, were significantly associated with higher body mass index (BMI) z-scores.
• Children sleeping less than 9.44 hours nightly at age 4 had higher odds of obesity (aOR 1.35).
• Later bedtimes (≥9:00 pm) or early waketimes (<6:30 am) at age 5 were associated with increased obesity odds (aORs 1.49 and 1.23, respectively).
• Longitudinally, short sleep duration and later bedtimes at age 4 predicted increases in BMI z-score between ages 4 and 5.

Conclusions:

• Shorter night-time sleep duration and later bedtimes are associated with increased likelihood of obesity and weight gain in young children.
• Promoting earlier bedtimes to increase sleep duration may be an effective strategy for weight management in children.
• Pediatricians should counsel families on the importance of adequate sleep for preventing childhood obesity.