Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Association between sleep duration and overweight: the importance of parenting

International Journal of Obesity volume 36, pages 1278–1284 (2012)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

Sleep duration has been related to overweight in children, but determinants of sleep duration are unclear. The aims were to investigate the association between sleep duration and childhood overweight adjusted for family characteristics and unhealthy behaviours, to explore determinants of sleep duration and to determine with sleep competing activities.

Method:

A cross-sectional study was carried out in 2006 among 4072 children aged 4–13 years in the city of Zwolle, The Netherlands. In these children, data were available on measured height, weight and waist circumference, and from a parental questionnaire, on socio-demographic characteristics, child’s sleep duration, nutrition, physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Associations were studied in 2011 using logistic and linear regression analyses, adjusted for potential confounders.

Results:

Short sleep duration was associated with overweight for 4–8-year-old boys (odds ratio (OR):3.10; 95% confidence interval (CI):1.15–8.40), 9–13-year-old boys (OR:4.96; 95% CI:1.35–18.16) and 9–13-year-old girls (OR:4.86; 95% CI:1.59–14.88). Among 4–8-year-old girls no statistically significant association was found. Determinants for short sleep duration were viewing television during a meal, permission to have candy without asking, not being active with their caregiver and a late bedtime. For all children, short sleep duration was strongly associated with more television viewing and computer use.

Conclusions:

Association between sleep duration and overweight is not explained by socio-demographic variables, drinking sugared drinks and eating snacks. Parents have a key role in stimulating optimal sleep duration. Improving parenting skills and knowledge to offer children more structure, and possibly with that, increase sleeping hours, may be promising in prevention of overweight.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Relevant articles

Open Access articles citing this article.

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Get just this article for as long as you need it

$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Nielsen LS, Danielsen KV, Sorensen TI . Short sleep duration as a possible cause of obesity: critical analysis of the epidemiological evidence. Obes Rev 2011; 12: 78–92.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Chen X, Beydoun MA, Wang Y . Is sleep duration associated with childhood obesity? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2008; 16: 265–274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Hart CN, Cairns A, Jelalian E . Sleep and Obesity in Children and Adolescents. Pediat Clin N Amer 2011; 58: 715–733.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Eisenmann JC, Ekkekakis P, Holmes M . Sleep duration and overweight among Australian children and adolescents. Acta Paediatr 2006; 95: 956–963.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Danielsen YS, Pallesen S, Stormark KM, Nordhus IH, Bjorvatn B . The relationship between school day sleep duration and body mass index in Norwegian children (aged 10–12). Int J Pediatr Obes 2010; 5: 214–220.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Liu X, Liu L, Owens JA, Kaplan DL . Sleep patterns and sleep problems among schoolchildren in the United States and China. Pediatrics 2005; 115 (1 Suppl): 241–249.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Spilsbury JC, Storfer-Isser A, Drotar D, Rosen CL, Kirchner LH, Benham H et al. Sleep behavior in an urban US sample of school-aged children. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2004; 158: 988–994.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. McLaughlin Crabtree V, Beal Korhonen J, Montgomery-Downs HE, Faye Jones V, O′Brien LM, Gozal D . Cultural influences on the bedtime behaviors of young children. Sleep Med 2005; 6: 319–324.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Nevarez MD, Rifas-Shiman SL, Kleinman KP, Gillman MW, Taveras EM . Associations of early life risk factors with infant sleep duration. Acad Pediatr 2010; 10: 187–193.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Arman AR, Ay P, Fis NP, Ersu R, Topuzoglu A, Isik U et al. Association of sleep duration with socio-economic status and behavioural problems among schoolchildren. Acta Paediatr 2011; 100: 420–424.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Spilsbury JC, Storfer-Isser A, Drotar D, Rosen CL, Kirchner HL, Redline S . Effects of the home environment on school-aged children′s sleep. Sleep 2005; 28: 1419–1427.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Hitze B, Bosy-Westphal A, Bielfeldt F, Settler U, Plachta-Danielzik S, Pfeuffer M et al. Determinants and impact of sleep duration in children and adolescents: data of the Kiel Obesity Prevention Study. Eur J Clin Nutr 2009; 63: 739–746.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Li S, Jin X, Wu S, Jiang F, Yan C, Shen X . The impact of media use on sleep patterns and sleep disorders among school-aged children in China. Sleep 2007; 30: 361–367.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. von Kries R, Toschke AM, Wurmser H, Sauerwald T, Koletzko B . Reduced risk for overweight and obesity in 5- and 6-y-old children by duration of sleep—a cross-sectional study. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2002; 26: 710–716.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Zhang J, Li AM, Fok TF, Wing YK . Roles of parental sleep/wake patterns, socioeconomic status, and daytime activities in the sleep/wake patterns of children. J Pediatr 2010; 156: 606–612 e5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Nixon GM, Thompson JM, Han DY, Becroft DM, Clark PM, Robinson E et al. Short sleep duration in middle childhood: risk factors and consequences. Sleep 2008; 31: 71–78.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Owens J, Maxim R, McGuinn M, Nobile C, Msall M, Alario A . Television-viewing habits and sleep disturbance in school children. Pediatrics 1999; 104: e27.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. de Jong E, Schokker DF, Visscher TL, Seidell JC, Renders CM . Behavioural and socio-demographic characteristics of Dutch neighbourhoods with high prevalence of childhood obesity. Int J Pediatr Obes 2011; 6: 298–305.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Fredriks AM, van Buuren S, Wit JM, Verloove-Vanhorick SP . Body index measurements in 1996–7 compared with 1980. Arch Dis Child 2000; 82 (2): 107–112.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Cole TJ, Bellizzi MC, Flegal KM, Dietz WH . Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: international survey. BMJ Clin Res 2000; 320: 1240–1243.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Cole T, Flegal K, Nicholls D, Jackson A . Body mass index cut offs to define thinness in children and adolescents: international survey. BMJ Clin Res 2007; 335: 194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. CBS Statistisch jaarboek 2000. Statistics Netherlands (CBS). CBS: Heerlen, The Netherlands, 2000.

  23. Bayer O, Rosario AS, Wabitsch M, von Kries R . Sleep duration and obesity in children: is the association dependent on age and choice of the outcome parameter? Sleep 2009; 32: 1183–1189.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Voedingscentrum Gezond eten Gezond bewegen met kinderen van 4–8 jaar [Healthy eating Healthy physical activity with children aged 4–8 years]. Dutch Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum): The Hague, The Netherlands.

  25. Kemper HCG, Ooijendijk WTM, Stiggelbout M . Consensus over de Nederlandse norm voor gezond bewegen. TSG 2000; 78: 180–183.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Wells JC . Natural selection and sex differences in morbidity and mortality in early life. J Theor Biol 2000; 202: 65–76.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Jago R, Davison KK, Thompson JL, Page AS, Brockman R, Fox KR . Parental Sedentary Restriction, Maternal Parenting Style, and Television Viewing Among 10- to 11-Year-Olds. Pediatrics 2011; 128: 572–578.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Kremers SP, Brug J, de Vries H, Engels RC . Parenting style and adolescent fruit consumption. Appetite 2003; 41: 43–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Berge JM, Wall M, Loth K, Neumark-Sztainer D . Parenting style as a predictor of adolescent weight and weight-related behaviors. J Adolesc Health 2010; 46: 331–338.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Dworak M, Schierl T, Bruns T, Struder HK . Impact of singular excessive computer game and television exposure on sleep patterns and memory performance of school-aged children. Pediatrics 2007; 120: 978–985.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Curcio G, Ferrara M, De Gennaro L . Sleep loss, learning capacity and academic performance. Sleep Med Rev 2006; 10: 323–337.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Dewald JF, Meijer AM, Oort FJ, Kerkhof GA, Bogels SM . The influence of sleep quality, sleep duration and sleepiness on school performance in children and adolescents: a meta-analytic review. Sleep Med Rev 2010; 14: 179–189.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Baltissen A . Monitor Children Zwolle, aged 0–12 year (Dutch: kindermonitor). GGD Regio IJssel Vecht: Zwolle, The Netherlands, 2006.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Hense S, Barba G, Pohlabeln H, De Henauw S, Marild S, Molnar D et al. Factors that influence weekday sleep duration in European children. Sleep 2011; 34: 633–639.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank our partners in this monitoring study: the Zwolle city council, the local health services and several welfare organizations in the city. We are greatly thankful to all the students who helped with the measurements, the participated schools and sponsorships.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Centre for the Prevention of Overweight, VU University Amsterdam/Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, Zwolle, The Netherlands

    E de Jong, T L S Visscher, J C Seidell & C M Renders

  2. Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    E de Jong, T L S Visscher, J C Seidell & C M Renders

  3. Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences, Urology and Andrology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden

    T Stocks

  4. Institute of Preventive Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospitals, Copenhagen, Denmark

    T Stocks

  5. Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    R A HiraSing

Authors
  1. E de Jong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. T Stocks
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. T L S Visscher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. R A HiraSing
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. J C Seidell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. C M Renders
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to E de Jong.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

de Jong, E., Stocks, T., Visscher, T. et al. Association between sleep duration and overweight: the importance of parenting. Int J Obes 36, 1278–1284 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2012.119

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2012.119

Keywords

  • childhood overweight
  • sleep
  • parenting
  • home environment
  • healthy lifestyle
  • prevention

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links