Sleep and Obesity in Children and Adolescents

Publisher Summary The increased prevalence and severity of obesity in children has led to an increase in sleep disorders related to excess weight, such as the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and the hypoventilation syndrome. Although compelling literature both in the adult and pediatric population demonstrates a causative role of obesity on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), more recent studies have begun to suggest an inversed causative relationship between obesity and OSA such that OSA may play a potentiating role in weight gain. This chapter first reviews the epidemiological studies that have shown an association between short sleep and obesity in children and adolescents. It later examines the laboratory studies in adults that have analyzed the effect of sleep restriction on the neurohormonal control of appetite, and formulates hypotheses on the possible mechanisms linking short sleep and the risk of obesity. Finally, the chapter briefly reviews the pediatric sleep disorders that are related to obesity and proposes that one of the common sleep disorders, OSA, may contribute to the epidemic of obesity.