Sleep Duration and Quality in Children

Obesity in children is a priority of public health initiatives, and reliable obesity prevalence and severity assessments are needed for policy decisions and study directions. Obesity in childhood raises the risk of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases in later life. To develop preventive strategies, it is essential to identify modifiable lifestyle habits linked to childhood obesity. The four main modifiable lifestyle behaviors affecting body weight are physical activity, sleep, screen time, and eating patterns. Among these factors, sleep is a neglected issue for clinicians, and recent research has shown that sleep patterns can predict BMI and macronutrient intake. Getting enough sleep is essential to a person's physical and mental well-being and development. This study aims to determine the sleep duration and quality of children aged 9-12 during the school year and how sleep impacts food intake and choice. Also, determining any relationships between the sleep and food intake outcomes and screen time, physical activity, and anthropometric indicators.

Inclusion Criteria:Age: 9-12 years oldOne parent or guardian should accompany the child.A commitment to complete all the questionnaires daily for both children and parentsA commitment to wearing the actigraphy during seven days of study.Exclusion Criteria:Remove the watch during the week of studyNot completing two dietary recallsNot completing forms and questionnairesBeing sick (e.g., Covid-19) during the week of study.