Sleep Restriction and Weekend Sleep Compensation Relate to Eating Behavior in School-Aged Children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Sleep Science
• Childhood Obesity Research
• Nutritional Psychology

Background:

• Shortened sleep duration and sleep debt are established risk factors for childhood obesity.
• Understanding the interplay between sleep patterns and eating behaviors is crucial for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between habitual sleep restriction and eating behavior in school-aged children.
• To compare these associations in children with and without obesity.

Main Methods:

• 131 school-aged children underwent actigraphic sleep monitoring for 4 days.
• Eating behavior was assessed using the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ).
• Children were categorized based on sleep restriction (<8 hours nightly) and sleep compensation (≥1 hour weekend catch-up).

Main Results:

• Sleep-restricted children exhibited higher pro-ingestion eating scores and lower satiety responsiveness.
• In children with obesity, sleep restriction was linked to slower eating, lower satiety responsiveness, and increased food fussiness, particularly on weekends.
• Children without sleep compensation showed higher pro-ingestion and lower anti-ingestion eating scores.

Conclusions:

• Habitual sleep restriction in school-aged children is associated with altered eating behaviors, including increased appetite and reduced satiety.
• Sleep compensation during weekends may positively influence eating behaviors.
• Targeting sleep duration could be a potential strategy in managing childhood obesity and disordered eating patterns.