Association between Short Sleep Duration and Overweight/Obesity among middle-school students: a cross-sectional study in Fuzhou, China

Abstract Background: This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of short sleep duration and explore the association between short sleep duration and overweight or obesity in adolescents from middle school in Fuzhou, China. Methods: Questionaires focusing on short sleep duration and overweight or obesity related factors were collected. The sleep duration was self-reported by the subjects. The body weight and height of each subject were measured by the qualified personnel. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the effects of short sleep duration on overweight or obesity in school students. Results: The overall rates of overweight and obesity were 12.1% and 7.1%, respectively. The prevalence of short sleep duration among students was 82.8%. The majority of high school students (92.5%) suffered from short sleep duration. Compared with male children with a sleep duration of over 8 hrs a day, the odds ratios (95% CI) of overweight/obesity for those with a sleep duration of less than 6 h or 6 - 8 h, were 1.63 (1.25-2.13) and 1.06 (0.88-1.27). After adjusting social and demographic status, mental health and lifestyle factors, the odds ratios of female children were 1.38(0.99-1.93) and 1.04 (0.79-1.35), respectively. Conclusions: A large number of adolescents suffered from short sleep duration. Short sleep duration was negatively correlated with overweight/obesity among male children.