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Sleep duration and risk of obesity among a sample of Victorian school children

Bridget Morrissey1, Mary Malakellis2, Jill Whelan3

  • 1School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, Victoria, 3125, Australia. bridget.morrissey@deakin.edu.au.

BMC Public Health
|March 11, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Children with insufficient sleep are more likely to be overweight or obese. This study used objective measures to examine sleep duration, physical activity, and weight status in primary school children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Obesity Research
  • Sleep Science

Background:

  • Insufficient sleep is a potential risk factor for childhood obesity and sedentary behaviors.
  • Previous studies show inconsistencies, necessitating objective measurement methods.
  • This research investigates sleep duration's link to physical activity and weight in primary school children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the relationship between sleep duration and objectively measured physical activity, sedentary time, and weight status.
  • To provide objective data on sleep and its association with health behaviors in children.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from 298 primary school children (grades 4 and 6) in Victoria, Australia.
  • Collected objective data including researcher-measured height/weight and accelerometry for physical activity and sedentary time.
  • Included self-reported sleep duration and potential confounding factors.

Main Results:

  • Children sleeping less than 10 hours per day were significantly more likely to be overweight or obese compared to sufficient sleepers.
  • No significant association was found between sleep duration and objectively measured physical activity levels.
  • No significant association was found between sleep duration and objectively measured sedentary time.

Conclusions:

  • A strong positive relationship exists between poor weight status and sleep deprivation in children.
  • Physical activity and sedentary time do not appear to mediate the link between sleep and weight status.
  • Interventions aimed at improving sleep duration could be valuable for childhood obesity prevention efforts.
Abstract

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