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Longitudinal Associations Between Sleep Habits, Screen Time and Overweight, Obesity in Preschool Children

Myrtha E Reyna-Vargas1, Arpita Parmar2, Diana L Lefebvre3

  • 1Translational Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Nature and Science of Sleep
|July 12, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Short sleep duration and high screen time in preschoolers significantly increase overweight and obesity risks by age five. These modifiable factors highlight early childhood obesity prevention strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Obesity Research
  • Sleep Science

Background:

  • Preschoolers' sleep duration and screen time are linked to overweight and obesity.
  • Longitudinal data on the combined effects of sleep duration, bedtime, and screen time on childhood obesity are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the independent and joint effects of sleep duration, bedtime, and screen time at age 3 on body mass index (BMI) status by age 5.
  • To assess the association between these factors and the risk of overweight and obesity in early childhood.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of longitudinal data from 2185 children in the CHILD Cohort Study.
  • Generalized estimating equations (GEE) used to model changes in overweight/obesity status from age 3 to 5.
  • Exploratory variables included nocturnal sleep duration, bedtime, and screen time at age 3.

Main Results:

  • Sleeping less than 10.5 hours at age 3 was associated with a 46% increased odds of overweight/obesity by age 5.
  • Late bedtimes (after 9 PM) combined with short sleep duration further elevated this risk.
  • Children with both short sleep duration and excess screen time (>1 hr/day) had double the risk of overweight/obesity by age 5.

Conclusions:

  • Nocturnal sleep duration and screen time are critical, modifiable risk factors for childhood overweight and obesity.
  • Early interventions targeting sleep and screen time in infancy and preschool years are crucial for obesity prevention.
Abstract

Keywords:
BMINocturnal sleepbedtime

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