Sleep restriction and its association with adolescent obesity: a review

Adolescence typically describes the years between ages 13 and 19 and can be considered the transitional stage from childhood to adulthood. Optimal sleep is needed to promote good health in children and adolescents. Inadequate sleep is seen as a consequence of “modern life”. The present review discusses role of short sleep duration as an independent risk factor for obesity and weight gain. A literature search was conducted for all articles published between 2000 and 2016 using the key words “sleep restriction” and (“duration” or “hour” or “hours”) and “obesity” or “weight” in the PUBMED database. Additional references were identified by reviewing bibliographies. Studies reporting the association between sleep duration and at least one measure of weight were included. Sleep restriction increased desire for (high-calorie) food choices, particularly increased intake of carbohydrates and fat, and cravings for calorie-dense foods (which are higher in glycaemic index and glycaemic load) suggesting sleep deprivation leads to weight gain making these foods more rewarding. Adequate sleep in adolescence would be the preventive factor for obesity.