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Short Sleep Duration Is Independently Associated With Overweight and Obesity in Quebec Children

  • Quantitative Research
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Canadian Journal of Public Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association of sleep duration with adiposity and to determine if caloric intake and physical activity mediate this relationship.

Methods: The Quebec Adiposity and Lifestyle Investigation in Youth (QUALITY) study is an ongoing longitudinal investigation of Caucasian children with at least one obese biological parent. Children (n=550) with an average age of 9.6 years (SD=0.9) who provided complete data at baseline were included in the cross-sectional analyses. Objective measures of adiposity (BMI Z-score, waist circumference, percent body fat measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), sleep duration and physical activity (accelerometer over 7 days), and diet (24-hour food recalls) were collected. Children were categorized into 4 groups according to sleep duration: <10 hours, 10–10.9 hours, 11–11.9 hours, and ≥12 hours of sleep per night.

Results: We observed a U-shaped relationship between sleep duration and all adiposity indices. None of energy intake, snacking, screen time or physical activity intensity differed significantly between sleep categories. After adjusting for age, sex, Tanner stage, highest educational level of the parents, total annual family income, and parental BMI, only short-duration sleepers (<10 hours) had an increased odds of overweight/obesity (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.16–3.67). Addition of total energy intake and physical activity to the model did not change the association substantially (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.15–3.63).

Conclusion: The present study provides evidence that short sleep duration is a risk factor for overweight and obesity in children, independent of potential covariates. These results further emphasize the need to add sleep duration to the determinants of obesity.

Résumé

Objectif: Cette étude avait pour but d’investiguer la relation entre la durée du sommeil et les indices d’adiposité et de déterminer si l’apport calorique et la pratique d’activité physique sont des médiateurs de cette relation.

Méthodologie: L’étude QUALITY (Quebec Adiposity and Lifestyle Investigation in Youth) est une étude longitudinale chez des enfants caucasiens qui ont au moins un parent biologique obèse. Les enfants (n=550) avec une moyenne d’âge de 9,6 ans (déviation standard: 0.9 ans) et chez qui des données complètes ont été obtenues ont été inclus dans les analyses transversales. Des mesures objectives d’adiposité (score Z d’indice de masse corporelle, circonférence de la taille et pourcentage de gras mesuré par absorption bi-photonique à rayons X), du temps de sommeil et d’activité physique (accéléromètre sur une période de 7 jours) et de la diète (rappels alimentaires de 24 heures) ont été collectées. Les enfants ont été catégorisés dans 4 groupes selon leur durée de sommeil: <10 heures, 10–10.9 heures, 11–11.9 heures et ≥12 heures de sommeil par nuit.

Résultats: Nous avons observé une relation en forme de U entre la durée du sommeil et tous les indices d’adiposité. L’apport énergétique, le nombre de collations, le temps devant l’écran et l’intensité de l’activité physique ne différaient pas de façon significative entre les catégories de sommeil. Après ajustement pour l’âge, le sexe, les stages de Tanner, le niveau d’éducation des parents, le revenu annuel total des parents et l’indice de masse corporelle des parents, seulement les petits dormeurs (<10 heures) avaient un risque accru d’être en surpoids ou obèse (rapport des cotes (RC) 2.08, intervalle de confiance à 95% 1,16–3,67). L’addition de l’apport énergétique total et de la pratique d’activité physique au modèle statistique n’a pas changé l’association de façon importante (RC 2,05, IC 95% 1,15–3,63).

Conclusion: La présente étude montre qu’une courte durée de sommeil est un facteur de risque de surpoids et d’obésité chez les enfants, indépendamment des variables confondantes potentielles. Ces résultats renforcent le besoin d’ajouter la durée du sommeil dans la liste des déterminants de l’obésité.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, 401 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L1, Canada

    Jean-Philippe Chaput PhD & Mark S. Tremblay PhD

  2. Department of Pediatrics, CHU Ste-Justine and University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Marie Lambert MD, FRCPC

  3. School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Katherine Gray-Donald PhD

  4. Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Jennifer J. McGrath PhD

  5. Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Jennifer O’Loughlin PhD

  6. Division of Kinesiology, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada

    Angelo Tremblay PhD

Authors
  1. Jean-Philippe Chaput PhD
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  2. Marie Lambert MD, FRCPC
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  3. Katherine Gray-Donald PhD
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  4. Jennifer J. McGrath PhD
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  5. Mark S. Tremblay PhD
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  6. Jennifer O’Loughlin PhD
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  7. Angelo Tremblay PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jean-Philippe Chaput PhD.

Additional information

Acknowledgements: The research team is grateful to all the children and their families who took part in this study as well as the technicians, research assistants and coordinators involved in the QUALITY cohort project.

Sources of Funding: This study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec. JPC holds a Junior Research Chair in Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research. JOL holds a Canada Research Chair in the Early Determinants of Adult Chronic Disease. AT holds a Canada Research Chair in Environment and Energy Balance.

Conflict of Interest: None to declare.

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Chaput, JP., Lambert, M., Gray-Donald, K. et al. Short Sleep Duration Is Independently Associated With Overweight and Obesity in Quebec Children. Can J Public Health 102, 369–374 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404179

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404179

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