Do Sleep-Deprived Adolescents Make Less Healthy Food Choices?

Allison Kruger, Stony Brook University, State University of New York (SUNY)
Eric N. Reither, Utah State University
Paul Peppard, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Lauren Hale, Stony Brook University, State University of New York (SUNY)

Short sleep duration is associated with higher body mass index among children and adolescents. Food choices are one proposed mechanism through which this association may occur. In this study, we examined whether sleep duration is correlated with vegetable and fruit consumption and fast food consumption. We estimated logistic regression models using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (n=12,884). Short sleep duration (<7 hours) was associated with reduced odds of vegetable and fruit consumption compared to recommended sleep duration (>8 hours) (OR=0.75, p<0.001), even after controlling for sociodemographic and behavioral factors (OR=0.83, p<0.01). Short sleep duration was also associated with increased odds of fast food consumption, as compared to those sleeping >8 hours/night (OR=1.30, p<0.001), although the association is not significant after controlling for sociodemographic and behavioral covariates. Food choices are significantly associated with sleep duration and may play an important role in mediating the association between sleep and obesity.