Ozturk, A., Mazicioglu, M., Poyrazoglu, S., Cicek, B., Gunay, O., & Kurtoglu, S. (2009). The relationship between sleep duration and obesity in Turkish children and adolescents. Acta Paediatrica, 98(4), 699-702.

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Abstract

Aim

To determine the relationship between sleep duration and obesity in Turkish children and adolescents.

Methods

This study was conducted in Turkey with 5358 children aged 6 to 17 years. Height, weight, waist circumference (WC), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), triceps skinfold thickness were measured. Body mass index (BMI), arm fat area were calculated. Self-reported sleep duration by parents were obtained.

Results

As sleep duration increased, BMI, which was significantly higher in girls sleeping < or =8 h, decreased (p < 0.05). WC, MUAC, BMI were significantly higher in boys sleeping < or =8 h versus males sleeping > or =10 h. Boys sleeping < or =10 h in 6.0-17.0-years had significantly higher risk of overweight/obesity. In 6.0 to 17.0 years, the risk of overweight/obesity in boys sleeping 9-10 h, 8-9 h and < or =8 h were 1.86-, 1.74- and 2.06-times higher respectively, versus children sleeping > or =10 h (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Sleep duration may be an important factor for obesity and providing > or =10 h of sleep is recommended as a prevention strategy for obesity.

MeSH Terms
    Adolescent
    Anthropometry/methods
    Body Fat Distribution
    Body Mass Index
    Child
    Cross-Sectional Studies
    Female
    Humans
    Linear Models
    Male
    Obesity/epidemiology
    Obesity/physiopathology*
    Obesity/prevention & control
    Overweight/epidemiology
    Overweight/physiopathology
    Prevalence
    Sex Factors
    Sleep/physiology*
    Turkey/epidemiology