Sleep Restriction and Weekend Sleep Compensation Relate to Eating Behavior in School-Aged Children.

Purpose: Several studies showed that shortened sleep duration and subsequent sleep debt are related to obesity risk in children. We evaluated the association between habitual sleep restriction and eating behavior in school-aged children with and without obesity. Patients and Methods: In 131 school-aged children (mean [±SD] age 10.2 ± 2.0 years), we assessed eating behavior through the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ). Actigraphic recordings measured sleep patterns for 4 consecutive days, including a weekend day. CEBQ scores were calculated in sleep-restricted children (having a nighttime sleep duration <8 hours) during week and weekend days and compared for those with (n = 67) and without obesity (n = 64). CEBQ scores were also compared between children with and without sleep compensation (a weekend catch-up in sleep duration ≥1 hour compared to weekdays' sleep duration). Results: The mean sleep duration was 8.0 ± 1.3 h, and about 70% of children slept less than the daily sleep recommendation. Children having sleep restriction had higher scores in the four CEBQ pro-ingestion dimensions (all Conclusion: Sleep duration was lower than the recommended sleep in this sample of school-aged children. Sleep restriction was associated with enhanced pro-ingestion eating behavior scores and reduced anti-ingestion scores. Sleep compensation appears to have a positive effect on eating behavior scores.