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Sleep-disordered breathing, sleep duration, and childhood overweight: a longitudinal cohort study

Karen Bonuck1, Ronald D Chervin2, Laura D Howe3

  • 1Department of Family Medicine and Social Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY.

The Journal of Pediatrics
|December 16, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and insufficient sleep duration independently increase children's risk of becoming overweight. Early identification and intervention for SDB and poor sleep are crucial for preventing childhood obesity.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Obesity Research

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern.
  • Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and insufficient sleep duration are potential contributing factors.
  • Longitudinal data on these associations are critical for understanding developmental trajectories.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the independent associations between sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and sleep duration in early childhood.
  • To examine their impact on body mass index (BMI) development up to adolescence.
  • To inform strategies for childhood obesity prevention.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (n=1899).
  • Collected parent-reported sleep data (duration, SDB symptoms) from birth to 6.75 years.
  • Analyzed BMI at ages 7, 10, and 15 years using logistic regression models, adjusting for confounders and sleep duration.

Main Results:

  • Children with severe SDB symptoms showed increased odds of overweight at ages 7, 10, and 15.
  • Short sleep duration (≤10th percentile) at approximately 5-6 years was independently associated with overweight at 15 years.
  • Short sleep duration at 4.75 years also predicted higher odds of being overweight at 15 years, independent of SDB.

Conclusions:

  • Both SDB and short sleep duration are significant, independent risk factors for childhood overweight.
  • Early detection and management of SDB and insufficient sleep are vital strategies for combating childhood obesity.
  • These findings highlight the critical role of sleep health in metabolic development.
Abstract

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