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Multidimensional association of sleep health with dietary habits and physical activity in adolescents
This research investigates the multidimensional associations between sleep health, diet, and physical activity (PA) in a cohort of 373 adolescents (mean age 16.4 ± 2.3 years; 46.6% female; 20.9% racial/ethnic minority) from the Penn State Child Cohort. Utilizing subjective and objective measures, including self-reports, actigraphy (ACT), and polysomnography (PSG), the study analyzes how various sleep dimensions correlate with lifestyle factors.
Findings indicate that later self-reported and ACT-measured bedtimes and rising times correlate with increased snacking, higher caloric intake, and greater sedentarism. Specifically, a later ACT-measured sleep midpoint is linked to elevated carbohydrate intake and increased snacking behaviors. Additionally, higher sleep variability, as measured by ACT, correlates with increased sedentarism, while longer ACT-measured sleep latency is associated with more snacking and higher levels of PA and metabolic equivalent of task (MET) scores. Conversely, longer ACT-measured time in bed is associated with reduced PA levels.
The analysis reveals that sleep dimensions have a more pronounced impact on diet, PA, and sedentarism among adolescents assessed in-school, whereas the link to snacking is stronger during breaks. Notably, PSG-measured sleep dimensions did not exhibit significant correlations with lifestyle factors; however, a greater apnea/hypopnea index was associated with lower METs and increased sedentarism, though this association was not significant after adjusting for body mass index (BMI).
In conclusion, the study advocates for a multidimensional approach to evaluating sleep, which better elucidates its associations with dietary and physical activity behaviors. The authors suggest that future research should explore the downstream effects of these associations on cardiovascular health outcomes.
Year: 2026
