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Effects of exercise and nutritional intake on sleep architecture in adolescents

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Abstract

Purpose

Few studies have evaluated the relationship between sleep architecture and body mass index (BMI), nutrition, and physical activity in children. This study determined the relationship between sleep architecture and diet and exercise.

Methods

Three hundred nineteen Caucasian and Hispanic children aged 10 to 17 years participated in the follow-up assessment of the Tucson Children’s Assessment of Sleep Apnea study. The children and parents completed several questionnaires on dietary habits, amount of physical activity, and sleep habits. Subjects also underwent a home polysomnogram to characterize their sleep.

Results

Significant bivariate correlations were noted between stage II sleep percentage and the following: BMI (r = 0.246, p < 0.01), estimated total recreational energy expenditure (r = 0.205, p < 0.01), vigorous activity (r = 0.130, p = 0.009), and total estimated activity (r = 0.148, p = 0.009). In girls, significant correlations were noted between stage II percentage sleep and BMI score (r = 0.279, p < 0.01). Also in girls, significant negative correlation was noted between rapid eye movement (REM) sleep percentage and total fat intake (r = −0.168, p = 0.039). In boys, significant correlations were again seen between stage II percentage sleep and the following: BMI score (r = 0.218, p = 0.005), estimated total recreational energy expenditure (r = 0.265, p = 0.001), vigorous activity (r = 0.209, p = 0.008), and total estimated activity (r = 0.206, p = 0.010). When controlling for BMI percentile and age, significant bivariate correlation was also noted between REM sleep percentage and total fat intake (r = 0.176, p = 0.034) in boys.

Conclusions

BMI and exercise were associated with increases in stage II sleep. In girls, total fat intake was associated with a reduction in REM sleep, while in boys (after controlling for BMI percentile and age), total fat intake correlated with REM sleep.

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Acknowledgements

TuCASA is supported by NHLBI grant HL 62373.

Conflict of interests

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Sleep Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 221 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Karim M. Awad & Atul Malhotra

  2. Arizona Respiratory Center, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, 1501 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA

    Amy A. Drescher

  3. Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, 401 Park Drive, 2nd Floor East, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    Stuart F. Quan

Authors
  1. Karim M. Awad
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  2. Amy A. Drescher
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  3. Atul Malhotra
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Correspondence to Karim M. Awad.

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Awad, K.M., Drescher, A.A., Malhotra, A. et al. Effects of exercise and nutritional intake on sleep architecture in adolescents. Sleep Breath 17, 117–124 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-012-0658-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-012-0658-6

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