Effects of chronotype and sleep duration on life quality and psychopathology in childhood obesity

Abstract

Introduction: Childhood obesity is associated with various levels of deterioration in the quality of life and many serious medical conditions such as psychiatric problems. Aim of the study: The objectives of this study are to investigate whether a difference in terms of chronotype among obese and non-obese children and adolescents, and restricted sleep duration, is associated with obesity and whether chronotype and sleep duration in children and adolescents with obesity are associated with quality of life and comorbid psychiatric disorders. Material and methods: Forty-two participants diagnosed with childhood obesity were included in the study as the study group, and thirty-five participants without childhood obesity were included as the control group. Participants and their parents completed the Questionnaire for Measuring Health-Related Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents, the Development and Well-Being Assessment, and the Childhood Chronotype Questionnaire. The duration of sleep of the participants was also provided by the parent’s reporting within the scope of the study. Results: Sleep duration was an independent risk factor for becoming obese and had a significant effect on the number of comorbid psychiatric disorders independently of the morning-evening scale score. Conclusions: Unlike the chronotype, this study provided important evidence that sleep duration was associated with the development of obesity and the quantity of comorbid psychiatric disorders.