ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE : To examine associations of sleep duration and regularity with dietary intake and eating-related cognitions among adolescents who are overweight/obese. METHODS : Participants were 315 adolescents being evaluated through Healthy Kids, Healthy Weight. Outcomes were reported sleep duration and regularity (bedtime shift, wake-time shift, sleep duration shift). Major predictors were dietary intake (e.g., consumption of calories and sugar-sweetened beverages) and eating-related cognitions (food preoccupation, eating self-efficacy). RESULTS : Findings were that staying up (i.e., bedtime shift) and sleeping in later (i.e., wake-time shift) on weekends compared with weekdays significantly relates to drinking more sugar-sweetened beverages, the latter for males. Sleeping in on weekends was related to greater food preoccupation. CONCLUSIONS : Sleep regularity was the most important variable in its relationships with dietary intake. Evaluating sleep patterns and improving them with behavioral interventions should be considered as an additional weight loss strategy to promote dietary adherence.
