The relationship between sleep duration and obesity in Turkish children and adolescents

Aim: To determine the relationship between sleep duration and obesity in Turkish children and adolescents. Methods: This study was conducted in Turkey with 5358 children aged 6 to 17 years. Height, weight, waist circumference (WC), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), triceps skinfold thickness were measured. Body mass index (BMI), arm fat area were calculated. Self-reported sleep duration by parents were obtained. Results: As sleep duration increased, BMI, which was significantly higher in girls sleeping <= 8 h, decreased (p < 0.05). WC, MUAC, BMI were significantly higher in boys sleeping <= 8 h versus males sleeping >= 10 h. Boys sleeping <= 10 h in 6.0-17.0-years had significantly higher risk of overweight/obesity. In 6.0 to 17.0 years, the risk of overweight/obesity in boys sleeping 9-10 h, 8-9 h and <= 8 h were 1.86-, 1.74- and 2.06-times higher respectively, versus children sleeping >= 10 h (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Sleep duration may be an important factor for obesity and providing >= 10 h of sleep is recommended as a prevention strategy for obesity.