Multiple Behavioral Factors Related to Weight Status in a Sample of Early Adolescents: Relationships of Sleep, Screen Time, and Physical Activity

The current investigation examines sleep debt, sleepiness, screen time, physical activity, and weight status among a sample of 110 adolescents. Students completed sleep questions, a sleepiness questionnaire, a measure of physical activity; anthropometric data were gathered. Results indicated significant relationships between sleep debt and sleepiness, screen time and sleepiness, and sleepiness and physical activity levels. Additionally, significant differences were found for physical activity and screen time, but not for sleepiness, between students among different weight status categories. A better understanding of sleep behaviors and weight status may ultimately inform prevention/treatment programs designed to reduce obesity in adolescents.