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

Rodrigo Chamorro1, Marcelo Garrido-González2, Mariolly Gutierrez3

  • 1Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.

Nature and Science of Sleep
|July 29, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Shortened sleep duration in children is linked to increased appetite and reduced satiety. Catching up on sleep during weekends may positively influence children's eating behaviors, especially in those with obesity.

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.
Abstract

Keywords:
childreneating behaviorobesitysleep compensationsleep duration

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