Television watching, sleepiness, and adiposity

Article Outline

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There is increasing evidence that there is a connection between sleep disturbance and obesity. In this issue of The Journal, Gaina et al evaluated a large population of Japanese children in a cross-sectional, school-based study. Twenty five percent of children reported that they were almost always sleepy during the day, and 48% reported that they were often sleepy during the day. Increased daytime sleepiness was associated with higher body mass index and more time watching television and playing video games. The cross-sectional nature of the study does not allow us to determine which factors come first. In addition, the role of obstructive sleep apnea as a disrupter of sleep is not clear. Nevertheless, these results suggest that increased physical activity, decreased media time, and improved sleep habits might decrease daytime sleepiness and could lower the incidence of childhood obesity.