INTRODUCTION:

Poor sleep hygiene can have a negative impact on the effectiveness of pediatric obesity treatment.

OBJECTIVES:

The aim of this study was to explore associations between sleep patterns, food/beverages consumption and maladaptive eating behaviors of children under hospital treatment for overweight/obesity and the sleep patterns and maladaptive eating behaviors of their caregivers.

METHODOLOGY:

This cross-sectional study assessed 110 Portuguese children (Age range: 8-12 years; 10.13 ± 1.39 years; 64 girls; Body Mass Index z-score 2.74 ± 0.66) in hospital ambulatory treatment for overweight/obesity and their caregivers (n =110; age 39.84±5.48 years; Body Mass Index 29.55±5.87 kg/m2). Children and caregivers reported their sleep patterns in the last 7 days, and answered to a set of self-report measures (Children: Food Frequency Questionnaire; Children's Eating Attitudes Test; Caregivers: Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire). Differences between groups were tested and correlational analyzes performed.

RESULTS:

Children with obesity presented a lower average of sleep hours (pre-obesity: 9:42 ± 0h54 hours; obesity: 9h11 ± 0h49 hours; p = 0.026). Bedtime irregularity between weekdays/weekends was associated with a higher frequency of “cookies” (rs = 0.24, p = 0.015) and “pastries” (rs = 0.23, p = 0.023) intake. Children’s late-waking/sleeping times were associated with reduced cognitive restriction of caregivers concerning food (rs = -0.20, p = 0.034; rs = -0.23, p = 0.017).

CONCLUSIONS:

Children’s insufficient number of hours of sleep and irregular sleep patterns between weekdays and weekends were associated with unhealthy eating habits and caregivers’ problematic eating behaviors.

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