Sweetened Beverage Consumption is Associated With Sleep Duration and Timing in Young Adolescents

This study examines cross-sectional relationships between sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption and sleep in early adolescents using rigorous assessments and accounting for caffeine consumption. It was hypothesized that greater SSB consumption would be associated with shorter sleep duration, greater sleepiness, lower sleep quality, and later bedtimes and waketimes on weekdays and weekends. The sample included 288 middle school students (M_age = 12.09 years; 54% female; 48% Black; 37% White; 10% Hispanic/Latino; and 5% other racial-ethnic groups) recruited from 15 public middle schools in the Birmingham metropolitan area. Sleep duration, as well as wake and bedtimes, were calculated from 7-day actigraphy. During the same 7 days, SSB and caffeine consumption were measured with daily assisted 24-hour food recalls. Multiple regression analyses showed that after controlling for sociodemographics, physical activity, energy intake, and caffeine consumption, greater SSB consumption was associated with shorter weekday sleep duration (β = -.19; CI = [-.28, -.05]). Furthermore, higher SSB consumption was linked to later bedtimes (β = .19; CI = [.05, .33]). Results suggest that youth who drink more SSBs have disruptions in sleep timing on weekdays and weekends that may contribute to shorter sleep duration. To improve adolescent sleep, continued efforts are needed to reduce overall SSB consumption through nutrition education in schools and communities.