The Relationships Among Facets of Sleep, Eating Behavior, Energy Intake, and Adiposity in Youth
Abstract
Some studies suggest that there are characteristics of sleep beyond insufficient duration that are associated with obesity risk in youth. Recent data suggest that, among pre-adolescents, variables beyond duration alone, such as sleep quality, timing, and variability are associated with weight status. Facets of sleep variability generally fall into two broad categories: those that include measures of duration, and those that include behavioral estimations of circadian rhythm shift. The latter may be particularly salient to consider in its relation to dietary intake, disinhibited eating, and obesity risk in a broad pediatric age range, as sleep needs and timing change significantly after puberty onset. Sleep timing (i.e., the time one falls asleep and/or wakes up) may also play an important role. Preliminary data indicate that greater sleep variability and later bed and wake timing is linked with greater energy intake, specifically from fat, carbohydrates, and added sugar; higher body mass index; and greater fat mass. Further, sleep variability has been associated with disinhibited eating and cravings, which in some cases have been linked to greater overall energy consumption, carbohydrates, snacks, and dessert-type food intake, and high weight in youth. However, there is a relative paucity of objectively measured data examining the links between facets of sleep variability and timing and obesity risk in youth. Additionally, there is a lack of consensus on which facets of sleep warrant investigative effort. Given that available data are primarily cross-sectional, more longitudinal data are needed to better understand which facets of sleep may be linked with obesogenic behaviors over time.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 09, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1186117
Entities
People
- Sarah Lemay-russell
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences