Beyond sleep duration: Sleep timing as a risk factor for childhood obesity

Background: Ample evidence attests to the relationship between short sleep duration, sleep problems and childhood obesity. However, few studies have examined the association between sleep timing and obesity in children. Objectives: To investigate how sleep duration, problems and timing relate to obesity and obesogenic behaviours in children. Methods: Eighty-five children (58.8% girls) with severe obesity and mean (SD) age of 12.1 (2.9) years, were matched by age and sex with peers with normal weight (n = 85,12.0 [2.8] years). Sleep and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were measured via accelerometer for seven consecutive days. Children self-reported emotional eating on the Dutch eating behavior questionnaire. Parents reported children's screen time and sleep problems. Results: Children with severe obesity had significantly later mean mid-sleep time, overall (36 minutes later, P <.001), on school nights (36 minutes later, P <.001) and weekend nights (39 minutes later, P =.002) compared to children with normal weight. Children with obesity had more sleep problems (P =.030), but no differences emerged in sleep duration or social jetlag. After adjusting for demographic factors, mid-sleep time was positively related to screen time (P =.030). Mid-sleep time and sleep duration were inversely related to time in MVPA (Ps ≤.041). There were no other significant associations between the sleep variables and the obesogenic behaviours. Conclusions: Later sleep timing was related to obesogenic behaviours in children and may represent an obesity risk factor.