No relation between sleep duration and adiposity indicators in 9-36 months old children: the SKOT cohort

Background Epidemiological studies in adults and children have repeatedly reported an association between short sleep duration and the risk of obesity. Studies using both objective measurements of sleep and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in children aged three are, however, lacking. Objective The study aims to examine both the longitudinal and cross-sectional associations between sleep duration and adiposity indicators in children aged 3 and younger. Methods On a cohort of 311 infants born at term, we used parent-reported sleep duration at 9 months, 18 months and 3 years of age, and accelerometer estimated nocturnal sleep duration at 3 years of age. Sleep duration at 9 and 18 months were used to predict adiposity at 3 years of age. Results We found no associations between any of the adiposity indicators at 3 years of age and (i) parent-reported total sleep duration at 9 months, 18 months and 3 years, and (2) nocturnal sleep duration measured with accelerometry at 3 years of age. Multivariate adjustments were used in both approaches. Conclusion Our results do not support the hypothesis that short sleep duration is associated with increased adiposity in this cohort of young Danish children.