Dean W Beebe, Stacey Simon, Suzanne Summer, Stephanie Hemmer, Daniel Strotman, Lawrence M Dolan
Journal: Sleep 2014;36(6):827-34
PMID: 23729925
Obesity in adolescents and adults has become a well recognised public health hazard. In this study the relationship of restricted sleep and consumption of high glycemic index foods, in particular sweets and desserts, was measured in adolescents. A 3-week experimental sleep manipulation protocol was designed. The order of experimental conditions was counterbalanced across participants in a randomised crossover design. All participants sleep time was in their home setting and was monitored via a daily sleep diary. No instructions were given regarding diet except to limit caffeine and energy drinks. Data was collected through sleep watches and the teens were instructed to wear the watch only during sleep time and throughout the night. A 24-hour diet recall was done at the end of each week. The results of the study showed that there was increased consumption of desserts and sweets during restricted sleep. The diets of adolescents after several nights of sleep restriction were characterised by higher glycemic index and glycemic load, as well as a trend toward high consumption of calories and carbohydrates. Sleep restriction may lead to to changes in dietary choices and dietary behaviour that may have long term negative impact on health.
STUDY OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between sleep and dietary intake in adolescents using an experimental sleep restriction protocol.
DESIGN
Randomized crossover sleep restriction-extension paradigm.
SETTING
Sleep obtained and monitored at home, diet measured during an office visit.
PARTICIPANTS
Forty-one typically developing adolescents age 14-16 years.
INTERVENTIONS
The 3-week protocol consisting of a baseline week designed to stabilize the circadian rhythm, followed randomly by 5 consecutive nights of sleep restriction (6.5 hours in bed Monday-Friday) versus healthy sleep duration (10 hours in bed), a 2-night washout period, and a 5-night crossover period.
MEASUREMENTS
Sleep was monitored via actigraphy and teens completed validated 24-hour diet recall interviews following each experimental condition.
RESULTS
Paired-sample t-tests examined differences between conditions for consumption of key macronutrients and choices from dietary categories. Compared with the healthy sleep condition, sleep-restricted adolescents' diets were characterized by higher glycemic index and glycemic load and a trend toward more calories and carbohydrates, with no differences in fat or protein consumption. Exploratory analyses revealed the consumption of significantly more desserts and sweets during sleep restriction than healthy sleep.
CONCLUSIONS
Chronic sleep restriction during adolescence appears to cause increased consumption of foods with a high glycemic index, particularly desserts/sweets. The chronic sleep restriction common in adolescence may cause changes in dietary behaviors that increase risk of obesity and associated morbidity.
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