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The Influence of Sleep and Reading on Overweight of the Children

Raquel Busto-Zapico1, Elsa Peña-Suárez1, Isaac Amigo-Vázquez1

  • 1Universidad de Oviedo (Spain).

The Spanish Journal of Psychology
|May 17, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Promoting leisure-time reading in children helps control body mass index (BMI). Reading encourages active leisure and more sleep, both linked to lower BMI, while reducing sedentary activities.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Childhood health is significantly influenced by lifestyle factors including leisure activities and sleep duration.
  • Body Mass Index (BMI) is a critical indicator of a child's weight status and overall health.
  • Understanding the interplay between leisure, sleep, and BMI is crucial for developing effective childhood obesity interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the interaction between leisure-time reading, active/sedentary leisure, sleep hours, and Body Mass Index (BMI) in children.
  • To determine the pathways through which leisure-time reading influences children's weight status.
  • To provide evidence-based recommendations for promoting healthy lifestyles in children.

Main Methods:

  • Path analysis was employed to examine the relationships between variables.
  • Data were collected from 291 children, including BMI measurements and interviews.
  • Statistical analyses assessed the associations and predictive relationships between leisure activities, sleep, and BMI.

Main Results:

  • Increased leisure-time reading was associated with more active leisure pursuits (r = .35, p < .001).
  • Leisure-time reading predicted increased sleep hours (β = .13, p < .05), which in turn predicted lower BMI (β = -.15, p < .001).
  • Reading more was also linked to less time spent on sedentary leisure activities (r = -.17, p < .001).

Conclusions:

  • Leisure-time reading positively influences children's BMI by promoting active leisure and adequate sleep.
  • Encouraging reading, particularly before sleep, can be a strategy to combat childhood overweight and promote a structured lifestyle.
  • Interventions should focus on fostering healthy lifestyle habits, including reading, to manage children's weight effectively.

Keywords:
active leisureoverweightreadsleep

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