This research was published at Obesity Journal at Oktober 2011. The researchers was conducted by Garaulet
at al who described the objective of the research:
(a) to describe sleep
duration in European adolescents from nine countries, (b) to assess the
association of short sleep duration with excess adiposity and (c) to elucidate
if physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviors and/or
inadequate food habits underlie this association.
Design of the reseach :
A sample of 3311
adolescents (1748 girls) aged 12.5–17.49 years from 10 European cities in
Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Spain and Sweden was
assessed in the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence Study
between 2006 and 2008. We measured anthropometric data, sleep duration, PA
(accelerometers and questionnaire), television watching and food habits (Food
Frequency Questionnaire).
Results:
Average duration of
daily sleep was 8 h. Shorter sleepers showed higher values of BMI, body fat, waist
and hip circumferences and fat mass index (P<0.05), particularly in females.
Adolescents who slept <8 h per day were more sedentary, as assessed
by accelerometry, and spent more time watching TV (P<0.05). The proportion
of adolescents who eat adequate amounts of fruits, vegetables and fish was
lower in shorter sleepers than in adolescents who slept
8 h per day, and so was
the probability of having adequate food habits (P<0.05). Correlation analysis
indicated that short sleep is associated with higher obesity parameters.
Conclusions:
In European adolescents,
short sleep duration is associated with higher adiposity markers, particularly
in female adolescents. This association seems to be related to both sides of
the energy balance equation due to a combination of increased food intake and
more sedentary habits.