Sleep and binge eating in early adolescents: a prospective cohort study

To determine the prospective associations between sleep disturbance and binge-eating disorder and behaviors in a national sample of early adolescents in the United States (US).

We analyzed prospective cohort data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (N = 9428). Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the associations between several sleep variables (e.g., overall sleep disturbance, disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep [insomnia], duration; Year 2) and binge-eating disorder and behaviors (Year 3), adjusting for sociodemographic Year 2 binge-eating covariates.

Overall sleep disturbance was prospectively associated with higher odds of binge-eating disorder (OR = 3.62, 95% CI 1.87-6.98) and binge-eating behaviors (OR = 1.59, 95% CI 1.17-2.16) 1 year later. Disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep were prospectively associated with higher odds of binge-eating disorder (OR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.05-1.19) and binge-eating behaviors (OR = 1.06, 95% CI 1.03-1.10). Sleep duration under 9 h was prospectively associated with greater binge-eating behaviors.

Sleep disturbance, insomnia symptoms, and shorter sleep duration were prospectively associated with binge eating in early adolescence. Healthcare providers should consider screening for binge-eating symptoms among early adolescents with sleep disturbance.

Level III: Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case-control analytic studies.