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Sleep duration and quality are associated with eating behavior in low-income toddlers
In this study by Miller et al. (2019), the authors examined if potential alterations in sleep parameters (quality, timing, and duration) could be caused by dietary behaviors related to obesity, such as food and satiety responsiveness, emotional overeating, food enjoyment, and eating in the absence of hunger (EAH), during toddler years. A sample of 134 children (average age 33 months, low-income households) was evaluated for their eating behaviors, through parent-reported data using the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire-Toddler, and direct observation data on palatable calories consumed following a meal (EAH). Several sleep parameters were evaluated, such as bedtimes and wake times during weekends and weekdays (weekday-to-weekend bedtime delay, weeknight sleep duration), and sleep quality (Children’s Sleep Wake Scale [CSWS]). Of the parameters investigated, the authors observed a significant relationship between increased EAH caloric consumption and shorter sleep duration during the night, poor sleep quality, and greater Food Responsiveness. The authors conclude that some dietary behaviors related to obesity lead to poor sleep quality and shorter sleep duration during the night in toddlers. Children growing up in low-income settings may be increasingly vulnerable to the obesity-promoting impact of sleep derangements (especially sleep quality and duration) on dietary patterns, and therefore, designing interventions to target sleep quality and duration may enhance the quality of life of children in low-income households. [NPID: Eating behavior, EAH, low income, sleep, toddlers]
Year: 2019
