The relationship between obesity and sleep timing behavior, television exposure, and dinnertime among elementary school-age children

Abstract

Study objectives: The daily lifestyle behaviors of children have been shown to be associated with obesity. There are limited studies on the association of sleep timing behavior and body mass index (BMI), specifically in elementary school-age children. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between obesity and sleep timing patterns, television exposure time, and dinnertime among elementary school-age children.

Methods: Children (n = 169) aged 6 to 10 years who were residents of Alabama were recruited for this study. The questionnaires were used to determine the bedtime, wake-up time, television exposure time, and dinnertime of the participants. The participants were categorized into four groups depending on the bedtime and wake-up time behavior habits: early bed/early wake-up (EE); early bed/late wake-up (EL); late bed/early wake-up (LE); and late bed/late wake-up (LL) time. The BMI z-score, television exposure time, and dinnertime of these groups were compared.

Results: The LL group had a significantly higher BMI z-score compared to the EE group. The higher BMI z-score in the LL group may be associated with late bedtime and not late wake-up time. Approximately 71% of children with late bedtime (8:48 pm), 75% of children who watch television for more than 1 hour, and 54% of children who have dinner after 7:00 pm have obesity.

Conclusions: Daily behavior habits such as late bedtime, increased television exposure, and late dinnertime are associated with obesity.

Keywords: body mass index; childhood obesity; dinnertime; sleep timing; television exposure.