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The Importance of Sleep in Overcoming Childhood Obesity and Reshaping Epigenetics

Erika Richter1, Priyadarshni Patel1, Jeganathan Ramesh Babu1,2,3

  • 1Department of Nutritional Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.

Biomedicines
|June 27, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Childhood obesity involves genetics and environment. This review explores how sleep patterns and epigenetics influence genes linked to childhood obesity, seeking new health solutions.

Area of Science:

  • Epigenetics
  • Pediatrics
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is multifactorial, influenced by genetics, sleep, diet, physical activity, and socioeconomic status.
  • Despite health advancements, effective long-term solutions for childhood obesity remain challenging.
  • Epigenetics, the study of gene expression changes without altering DNA sequence, is increasingly linked to lifestyle impacts on health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the connection between sleep patterns and epigenetic modifications in genes associated with childhood obesity.
  • To identify gaps in current literature regarding sleep-related genes and childhood obesity.
  • To explore how understanding this interplay can improve health outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature review of studies on sleep, epigenetics, and childhood obesity.
  • Analysis of research on DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNAs related to sleep.
  • Focus on studies linking sleep-related genes to obesity in children.

Main Results:

  • Significant research exists on sleep's influence on epigenetics (DNA methylation, histone modification, non-coding RNAs).
  • A notable gap remains in understanding specific sleep-related genes linked to childhood obesity.
  • The interplay between sleep, epigenetics, and childhood obesity is complex and warrants further investigation.

Conclusions:

  • Further research into sleep-related genes and epigenetic modifications is crucial for understanding and addressing childhood obesity.
  • Investigating the sleep-epigenetics-obesity link may reveal novel therapeutic targets.
  • This review highlights the need for targeted studies to bridge the existing knowledge gap.

Keywords:
DNA methylationchildhood obesityepigeneticshistone modificationsnon-coding RNAssleep

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