Original ArticleSleep and eating in childhood: a potential behavioral mechanism underlying the relationship between poor sleep and obesity

- We examined relationships between sleep duration and continuity and eating behaviors in healthy children.
- Eating in response to external cues for food, such as sights or smells, was negatively associated with sleep duration.
- Eating in response to negative emotions while disregarding physiologic hunger cues was related to poorer sleep continuity.
- Using cognitive suppression of internal hunger signals to lose or maintain weight was associated with a later bedtime.

ObjectiveThe goal of our study was to examine the associations between sleep and eating behaviors. Specifically, we examined associations between sleep duration and continuity with behaviors that promote eating regardless of true physiologic hunger state including emotional (food intake in response to emotional distress) external (eating in response to the sight or smell of food), and restrained eating (a paradoxical behavior; food intake is initially reduced to lose or maintain body weight, but followed by increased consumption and binge eating).ParticipantsFifty-six children (29 boys; 27 girls) ages 5 to 12 years participated in the study. Mean age was 7.7 ± 1.9 years, and average body mass index (BMI) was within the healthy range (17.8 ± 4.3 kg/m2).MethodsSleep duration, continuity and schedule were assessed using actigraphy and self-reports. The Child Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire-modified version (DEBQ-M) was used to examine levels of emotional, external and restrained eating in the children.ResultsAssociations between the sleep and eating behaviors were examined using partial correlations and multiple regression analyses. External eating score was negatively associated with sleep duration; emotional eating score was associated with lower levels of sleep continuity; and restrained eating score were associated with a later sleep start and later bedtime.ConclusionsShort sleep duration and poor sleep continuity were associated with higher levels of eating behaviors shown to be associated with increased food intake. Therefore, sleep loss may be associated with diminished self-regulation of appetite in children, increasing the risk for overeating and obesity.