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Longitudinal associations between sleep and weight status in infants and toddlers
Agnes G Bucko1, Bridget Armstrong2, Kerry L McIver2,3
1College of Health and Human Services, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
Insights
Longer sleep duration in young children is linked to lower weight-for-length z-scores, particularly when physical activity is low. This finding highlights sleep
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Sleep Science
- Child Development
Background:
- Limited research exists on infant/toddler sleep duration and weight status.
- Previous studies relied on parent reports and cross-sectional designs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate associations between sleep duration (average and changes) and weight-for-length z-scores in 6-24-month-olds.
- To examine if these associations differ by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and sex.
Main Methods:
- Actigraphy measured sleep duration in 116 children at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months.
- Weight-for-length z-scores were calculated from height and weight.
- Linear mixed models analyzed associations, including interactions with demographic factors.
Main Results:
- Increased nighttime sleep duration correlated with lower weight-for-length z-scores.
- This association was less pronounced in children with higher physical activity levels.
Conclusions:
- Promoting longer sleep duration may improve weight status in young children, especially those with low physical activity.
- Objective sleep measures are crucial for understanding child weight dynamics.
Background:
The limited research assessing relationships between sleep duration and weight status in infants and toddlers relies primarily on parent-reported sleep and cross-sectional studies.
Objectives:
Examine whether average sleep duration and changes in sleep duration among 6-24-month-old children were associated with weight-for-length z-scores, and whether these associations varied by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status and sex.
Methods:
Data were collected when children were approximately 6, 12, 18 and 24 months old (N = 116). Sleep duration was measured using actigraphy. Weight-for-length z-scores were calculated using children's height and weight. Physical activity was assessed using accelerometry. Diet was assessed using a feeding frequency questionnaire. Demographic characteristics included sex, race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Separate associations of between- and within-person changes in sleep duration were estimated with weight-for-length z-score treated as the outcome variable in linear mixed model analyses. Additional models were assessed that included interactions between sleep and demographic characteristics.
Results:
At time points where children slept longer at night compared to their own average, their weight-for-length z-score was lower. This relationship was attenuated by physical activity levels.
Conclusions:
Increasing sleep duration can improve weight status outcomes in very young children who have low physical activity levels.
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