2019
Sleep and body mass index in infancy and early childhood (6-36mo): a longitudinal study
Publication
Publication
Pediatric Obesity , Volume 14 - Issue 6
Summary
Background: Relatively, few longitudinal studies have evaluated the association
between sleep and body mass index (BMI) among younger children. In addition, few
studies have evaluated the bidirectional longitudinal association between sleep
duration and child BMI.
Objective: The objective of the study is to determine in children aged 6 to
36 months (1) the cross‐sectional association of sleep duration and sleep problems
with child BMI z score, (2) whether sleep duration predicts changes in child
BMI z score, and (3) and whether BMI z score can predict changes in child sleep
duration.
Methods: This study used longitudinal data from the BeeBOFT study (N = 2308).
Child sleep duration and sleep problems (indicated by night awakenings and sleep‐
onset latency) were parent reported, and child BMI was measured using a standardized protocol by trained healthcare professionals at approximately 6, 14, and
36 months of age. Linear mixed models and linear regression models were applied
to assess the cross‐sectional and bidirectional longitudinal associations between sleep
and BMI z scores.
Results: Cross sectionally, shorter sleep duration was associated with higher BMI z
scores at 14 (β = −0.034, P < 0.05) and 36 months (β = −0.045, P < 0.05). Sleep duration at 6 or 14 months did not predict BMI z score at either 14 or 36 months. Higher
BMI z scores at 6 months predicted shorter sleep duration (hours) at 14 months
(β = −0.129, P < 0.001). No association was found between sleep problems and child
BMI z scores.
Conclusions: Cross‐sectional associations between shorter sleep duration and
higher BMI z score emerged in early childhood (age 14 and 36 mo). Higher BMI z
scores may precede shorter sleep duration but not vice versa.
Additional Metadata | |
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doi.org/10.1111/ijpo.12506, hdl.handle.net/1765/117746 | |
Pediatric Obesity | |
Organisation | Department of Radiology |
Wang, L., Jansen, W., Boere-Boonekamp, M., Vlasblom, J. D., l' Hoir, M., Beltman, P., … Raat, H. (2019). Sleep and body mass index in infancy and early childhood (6-36mo): a longitudinal study. Pediatric Obesity, 14(6). doi:10.1111/ijpo.12506 |