Effects of exercise and nutritional intake on sleep architecture in adolescents

• Published in: Sleep & breathing Vol. 17; no. 1; pp. 117 - 124
• Main Authors: Awad, Karim M., Drescher, Amy A., Malhotra, Atul, Quan, Stuart F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01-03-2013; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescent; Arizona; Biological and medical sciences; Body Mass Index; Child; Cohort Studies; Dentistry; Dietary Carbohydrates - administration & dosage; Dietary Fats - administration & dosage; Diseases of striated muscles. Neuromuscular diseases; Disorders of higher nervous function. Focal brain diseases. Central vestibular syndrome and deafness. Brain stem syndromes; Energy Intake - physiology; Energy Metabolism - physiology; European Continental Ancestry Group; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Female; Food Preferences - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hispanic Americans; Humans; Internal Medicine; Male; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; Nutrition; Original Article; Otorhinolaryngology; Pediatrics; Pneumology/Respiratory System; Polysomnography; Sex Factors; Sleep; Sleep - physiology; Sleep Wake Disorders - ethnology; Sleep Wake Disorders - physiopathology; Sleep, REM - physiology; Sleep. Vigilance; Statistics as Topic; Surveys and Questionnaires; Teenagers; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Arizona; Stage II sleep; Exercise; Children; Sleep architecture; Nutrition; BMI; Human; Physical exercise; Nervous system diseases; Sleep stage; Sleep disorder; Sleep; Adolescent; Sleep wake cycle; Neurological disorder; Child
• ISSN: 1520-9512; 1522-1709
• DOI: 10.1007/s11325-012-0658-6

Purpose
Few studies have evaluated the relationship between sleep architecture and body mass index (BMI), nutrition, and physical activity in children. This study determined the relationship between sleep architecture and diet and exercise.
Methods
Three hundred nineteen Caucasian and Hispanic children aged 10 to 17 years participated in the follow-up assessment of the Tucson Children’s Assessment of Sleep Apnea study. The children and parents completed several questionnaires on dietary habits, amount of physical activity, and sleep habits. Subjects also underwent a home polysomnogram to characterize their sleep.
Results
Significant bivariate correlations were noted between stage II sleep percentage and the following: BMI (
r
 = 0.246,
p
 < 0.01), estimated total recreational energy expenditure (
r
 = 0.205,
p
 < 0.01), vigorous activity (
r
 = 0.130,
p
 = 0.009), and total estimated activity (
r
 = 0.148,
p
 = 0.009). In girls, significant correlations were noted between stage II percentage sleep and BMI score (
r
 = 0.279,
p
 < 0.01). Also in girls, significant negative correlation was noted between rapid eye movement (REM) sleep percentage and total fat intake (
r
 = −0.168,
p
 = 0.039). In boys, significant correlations were again seen between stage II percentage sleep and the following: BMI score (
r
 = 0.218,
p
 = 0.005), estimated total recreational energy expenditure (
r
 = 0.265,
p
 = 0.001), vigorous activity (
r
 = 0.209,
p
 = 0.008), and total estimated activity (
r
 = 0.206,
p
 = 0.010). When controlling for BMI percentile and age, significant bivariate correlation was also noted between REM sleep percentage and total fat intake (
r
 = 0.176,
p
 = 0.034) in boys.
Conclusions
BMI and exercise were associated with increases in stage II sleep. In girls, total fat intake was associated with a reduction in REM sleep, while in boys (after controlling for BMI percentile and age), total fat intake correlated with REM sleep.