Publication Date
11-1-2022
Journal
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
DOI
10.1093/ajcn/nqac197
PMID
35833269
PMCID
PMC9630867
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
7-14-2022
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Published Open-Access
yes
Keywords
Humans, Child, Preschool, Adiposity, Longitudinal Studies, Body Mass Index, Obesity, Sleep, Energy Intake, Body Composition, sleep, obesity, physical activity, dietary behaviors, energy expenditure
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Short sleep durations are related to risks for obesity in preschool children. However, the underlying mechanism or mechanisms are not clear.
OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the relationships between sleep characteristics and body composition, energetics, and weight-regulating behaviors in preschool-aged children, as well as the longitudinal associations between children's sleep and eating patterns and body composition at a 1-year follow-up.
METHODS: Data were drawn from a longitudinal study of 118 children aged 3-5 years. Sleep (duration, midpoint, regularity) and physical activity (PA) were measured by accelerometry over 6 consecutive days; total energy expenditure (TEE) was measured using the doubly labeled water method; body composition (fat mass, fat-free mass, and percent body fat) was measured by DXA; and dietary intake (energy intake, timing) was measured using two 24-hour recalls. Multivariable regression was used to estimate interindividual associations of sleep parameters with body composition, PA, TEE, and dietary outcomes and to examine the relationships between sleep and dietary behaviors and body composition 1 year later.
RESULTS: Cross-sectionally, later sleep midpoint is associated with having a greater fat mass (0.33; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.60) and a higher percent body fat (0.92; 95% CI: 0.15, 1.70). Later sleep midpoint was associated with delayed morning mealtimes (0.51; 95% CI: 0.28, 0.74) and evening mealtimes (0.41; 95% CI: 0.29, 0.53), higher nighttime energy intakes (45.6; 95% CI: 19.7, 71.4), and lower morning energy intakes (-44.8; 95% CI: -72.0, -17.6). Longitudinally, shorter sleep duration (-0.02; 95% CI: -0.03, 0.00) and later meal timing (0.83; 95% CI: 0.24, 1.42) were associated with higher percent body fat measurements 1 year later.
CONCLUSIONS: Shorter sleep duration and later meal timing are associated with adiposity gains in preschoolers.
Included in
Biochemical Phenomena, Metabolism, and Nutrition Commons, Critical Care Commons, Endocrine System Diseases Commons, Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism Commons, Pediatrics Commons