Associations between parent-reported sleep duration and adiposity in Chinese early adolescents

Abstract

Background Short sleep duration has recently been found to be associated with obesity in children, but findings involving adolescents have been less consistent, and some have mentioned gender differences. Objectives To investigate the association between parent-reported sleep duration and adiposity in early adolescence (10-12 years old) and to explore gender differences within this population. Methods Participants were 1309 fifth-grade students (685 boys) from 10 primary schools in Shanghai, China. Body mass index (BMI), waist-height ratio (WHeR) and body fat percentage (BF%) were assessed. Sleep and other potential contributors were recorded by parents or self-reported. Results Compared with adolescents in the longest sleep group (greater than or equal to +1 SD, ≥10.05 h), those in the shortest sleep group (less than -1 SD, <8.89 h) had significantly higher BMI, WHeR and BF%. Sleep was found to be closely related to increased adiposity in girls who were in the shortest and shorter sleep group ( <9.45 h). No association was found in boys. Conclusions Short sleep duration was associated with higher adiposity indices in early adolescents from China, especially in girls. Interventions focusing on modifying adolescents' sleep habits may potentially prevent obesity and overweight.