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Determinants and impact of sleep duration in children and adolescents: data of the Kiel Obesity Prevention Study

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 63, pages 739–746 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Background/Objectives: This study investigates determinants of sleep duration and its impact on nutritional status, resting energy expenditure (REE), cardiometabolic risk factors and hormones in children/adolescents.

Subjects/Methods: In 207 girls and 207 boys (13.0±3.4 (6.1–19.9) years) body mass index standard deviation score (BMI SDS), waist circumference (WC) z-score, body composition (air-displacement plethysmography), REE (ventilated hood system; n=312) and cardiometabolic risk factors/hormones (n=250) were assessed. Greater than 90th percentile of BMI/WC references was defined as overweight/overwaist. Sleep duration, media consumption (TV watching/computer use), physical activity, dietary habits, parental BMI, socio-economic status and early infancy were assessed by questionnaire. Short sleep was defined as <10 h per day for children <10 years and otherwise <9 h per day.

Results: Total 15.9% participants were overweight, mean sleep duration was 8.9±1.3 h per day. Age explained most variance in sleep (girls: 57.0%; boys: 41.2%) besides a high nutrition quality score (girls: 0.9%) and a low media consumption (boys: 1.3%). Sleep was inversely associated with BMI SDS/WC z-score (girls: r=−0.17/−0.19, P<0.05; boys: r=−0.21/−0.20, P<0.01), which was strengthened after adjusting for confounders. Short vs long sleep was associated with 5.5-/2.3-fold higher risks for obesity/overwaist (girls). After adjusting for age, REE (adjusted for fat-free mass) was positively associated with sleep in boys (r=0.16, P<0.05). Independently of age and WC z-score, short sleep was associated with lower adiponectin levels in boys (11.7 vs 14.4 μg/ml, P<0.05); leptin levels were inversely related to sleep in girls (r=−0.23, P<0.05). Homoeostasis model assessment–insulin resistance (r=−0.20, P<0.05) and insulin levels (r=−0.20, P<0.05) were associated with sleep (girls), which depended on WC z-score.

Conclusions: Age mostly determined sleep. Short sleep was related to a higher BMI SDS/WC z-score (girls/boys), a lower REE (boys), higher leptin (girls) and lower adiponectin levels (boys).

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (project 6.1.2 Network Kiel: Dietary Fat and Metabolism).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Humanernährung und Lebensmittelkunde, Christian-Albrechts Universität Kiel, Kiel, Germany

    B Hitze, A Bosy-Westphal, F Bielfeldt, U Settler, S Plachta-Danielzik & M J Müller

  2. Max Rubner-Institut, Kiel, Germany

    M Pfeuffer & J Schrezenmeir

  3. Klinik für Allgemeine Innere Medizin, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany

    H Mönig

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  1. B Hitze
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  2. A Bosy-Westphal
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Correspondence to M J Müller.

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Contributors: Writing of the manuscript, BH and MJM; study design, AB-W and MJM; data collection, BH, AB-W and FB; data analysis, BH, AB-W, US, MP, JS, HM; discussion of data, BH, AB-W, SP-D and MJM. All contributors helped with the revision of the paper.

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Hitze, B., Bosy-Westphal, A., Bielfeldt, F. et al. Determinants and impact of sleep duration in children and adolescents: data of the Kiel Obesity Prevention Study. Eur J Clin Nutr 63, 739–746 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2008.41

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Keywords

  • sleep duration
  • overweight
  • REE
  • cardiometabolic risk factors
  • hormones

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