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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #319650
Title: Is it time for bed? Short sleep duration increases risk of obesity in Mexican American children

Author
item MARTINEZ, SUZANNA - University Of California
item TSCHANN, JEANNE - University Of California
item GREENSPAN, LOUISE - Kaiser Permanente
item DEARDORFF, JULIANNA - University Of California
item PENILLA, CARLOS - University Of California
item FLORES, ELENA - University Of San Francisco
item PASCH, LAURI - University Of California
item GREGORICH, STEVE - University Of California
item BUTTE, NANCY - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: Sleep Medicine
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/23/2014
Publication Date: 9/30/2014
Citation: Martinez, S.M., Tschann, J.M., Greenspan, L.C., Deardorff, J., Penilla, C., Flores, E., Pasch, L.A., Gregorich, S.E., Butte, N.F. 2014. Is it time for bed? Short sleep duration increases risk of obesity in Mexican American children. Sleep Medicine. 15:1484-1489.

Interpretive Summary: Inadequate sleep time has been associated with obesity in children. In this study, the effect of sleep duration on weight gain over a 24 month period was examined in 229 Mexican American children, 8-10 years of age at baseline. Sleep duration was objectively measured using accelerometry (activity monitors) and classified according to the National Sleep Foundation's recommendation to define adequate sleep duration (10–11 h for 5–12-year-olds). We found that inadequate sleep at baseline predicted higher weight gain over 24 months. These findings suggest counseling Mexican American parents on the importantce of sleep in protecting their children from obesity.

Technical Abstract: Cross-sectional studies show that sleep is related to childhood obesity. We aimed to examine the longitudinal impact of sleep on the risk of obesity in Mexican American children. We evaluated 229 Mexican American 8–10-year-olds and their mothers at base- line and at 12- and 24-month follow-ups. Sleep duration and anthropometrics were collected. Age and gender-speci'c body mass index (BMI)z-scores(BMIz)were calculated based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Sleep duration was estimated using accelerometry. Children were also categorized as long or short sleepers, using the National Sleep Foundation’s recommendation to define adequate sleep duration (10–11 h for 5–12-year-olds). Using linear regressions, we examined whether sleep duration predicted BMIz, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and weight gain at 24 months. Children were mostly short sleepers (82%). Children who slept less were more likely to have a higher BMIz, WHtR, and weight gain at the 24-month follow-up(B = -0.07, P = 0.01; B = -0.11, P < 0.01; and B = -0.14, P = 0.02, respectively), after controlling for baseline weight status, child gender, maternal BMI, and occupation. In Mexican American children, shorter sleep duration at baseline was associated with increased weight status over 24 months.