ABSTRACT
Childhood obesity has been widely identified as a complex condition, with a plethora of factors that are associated with its development. Accumulating evidence suggests that short sleep duration may be an additional determinant of obesity [1,2]. The mechanisms by which short sleep duration influence body weight are under investigation and might involve both sides of the energy balance equation. Experimental sleep restriction has been reported to increase appetite via an up-regulation of appetitestimulating hormones [3]. Lack of sleep could also lead to weight gain and obesity by increasing the time available for eating and by making the
maintenance of a healthy, physically active lifestyle more difficult [4]. In an environment where energy-dense foods are highly palatable and readily available, caloric intake may be directly proportional to the time spent awake, especially if most of wakefulness is spent in screen-based sedentary activities where snacking is common [5]. Furthermore, the increased fatigue and tiredness associated with not having enough sleep may impact overall physical activity participation [6].
