Caffeine, Technology Linked to Overweight Kids Sleep Disorders

WESTCHESTER, Ill.—Inadequate sleep combined with increased electronic screen time and caffeine intake may have negative implications for adolescents’ health, psychosocial well-being and academic performance, according to research presented at SLEEP 2009, the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies.

“Boys had significantly more vigorous exercise, recreational activity than girls,” said Amy Drescher, Ph.D., research specialist at the University of Arizona. “The sleep and obesity connection is not always seen because factors such as exercise may keep weight in check.”

The study gathered data from 320 children who completed detailed dietary and physical activity questionnaires. Correlation and regression analysis were used to study the relationships among diet, physical activity and self-reported sleep duration and screen time. Mean age of the sample group was 13.3 years; 51.8 percent of participants were male, 65 percent were Caucasian and 35 percent were Hispanic.