Sleep Duration and Sun Exposure in Portuguese Children: Associations With Obesity Indicators

IF 1.9 4区医学 Q1 ANTHROPOLOGY

American Journal of Human Biology Pub Date : 2026-09-20 DOI:10.1002/ajhb.70333

Elizabete A. dos Santos, Aristides Machado-Rodrigues, Daniela Rodrigues, Maria-Raquel G. Silva, Helena Nogueira, Cristina Padez

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction

Sleep duration, sun exposure, and obesity are important and potentially interconnected factors in child health. In this study, we aimed to analyze the associations between sleep duration, sun exposure, and obesity indicators in Portuguese children.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 4755 children aged 3–10 years from public and private schools across Portugal. Parents reported children's sleep duration, sun exposure, screen time, active play, and physical activity using validated questionnaires. Trained professionals measured weight and height to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI) and assessed skinfold thickness to estimate body fat percentage (%BF). Multiple linear regression analyses, stratified by sex and adjusted for demographic, behavioral, and anthropometric factors, analyzed associations between sun exposure and sleep duration.

Results

In partially adjusted models (Model 1), negative associations persisted among boys, and positive associations emerged in girls for average sleep duration (β = 2.11; 95% CI: 0.25 to 3.96; p = 0.026) and weekdays (β = 2.40; 95% CI: 0.47 to 4.33; p = 0.015). In fully adjusted models (Model 2), the negative association remained only for boys on Sundays (β = −4.57; 95% CI: −8.22 to −0.91; p = 0.014), with no significant associations in girls.

Conclusions

Sun exposure exhibits modest, sex-specific associations with sleep duration in children. These findings emphasize the importance of considering behavioral and environmental factors when designing interventions to promote healthy sleep, support growth, and prevent childhood obesity.

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葡萄牙儿童的睡眠时间和日照：与肥胖指标的关联。

睡眠时间、阳光照射和肥胖是影响儿童健康的重要且潜在相互关联的因素。在这项研究中，我们旨在分析葡萄牙儿童睡眠时间、阳光照射和肥胖指标之间的关系。方法：这项横断面研究包括4755名来自葡萄牙公立和私立学校的3-10岁儿童。父母使用有效的问卷报告孩子的睡眠时间、阳光照射、屏幕时间、活跃游戏和体育活动。训练有素的专业人员测量体重和身高，计算身体质量指数（BMI），评估皮褶厚度，估算体脂率（%BF）。多元线性回归分析，按性别分层，并根据人口统计学、行为学和人体测量学因素进行调整，分析了阳光照射与睡眠时间之间的关系。结果：在部分调整的模型（模型1）中，在平均睡眠时间（β = 2.11; 95% CI: 0.25至3.96;p = 0.026）和工作日（β = 2.40; 95% CI: 0.47至4.33;p = 0.015）方面，男孩持续存在负相关，女孩出现正相关。在完全调整后的模型（模型2）中，只有男孩在周日仍然存在负相关（β = -4.57; 95% CI: -8.22至-0.91;p = 0.014），女孩没有显著相关。结论：日晒与儿童睡眠时间存在适度的、性别特异性的关联。这些发现强调了在设计干预措施以促进健康睡眠、支持生长和预防儿童肥胖时考虑行为和环境因素的重要性。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

American Journal of Human Biology 生物-生物学

CiteScore

4.80

自引率

13.80%

发文量

124

审稿时长

4-8 weeks

期刊介绍： The American Journal of Human Biology is the Official Journal of the Human Biology Association. The American Journal of Human Biology is a bimonthly, peer-reviewed, internationally circulated journal that publishes reports of original research, theoretical articles and timely reviews, and brief communications in the interdisciplinary field of human biology. As the official journal of the Human Biology Association, the Journal also publishes abstracts of research presented at its annual scientific meeting and book reviews relevant to the field. The Journal seeks scholarly manuscripts that address all aspects of human biology, health, and disease, particularly those that stress comparative, developmental, ecological, or evolutionary perspectives. The transdisciplinary areas covered in the Journal include, but are not limited to, epidemiology, genetic variation, population biology and demography, physiology, anatomy, nutrition, growth and aging, physical performance, physical activity and fitness, ecology, and evolution, along with their interactions. The Journal publishes basic, applied, and methodologically oriented research from all areas, including measurement, analytical techniques and strategies, and computer applications in human biology. Like many other biologically oriented disciplines, the field of human biology has undergone considerable growth and diversification in recent years, and the expansion of the aims and scope of the Journal is a reflection of this growth and membership diversification. The Journal is committed to prompt review, and priority publication is given to manuscripts with novel or timely findings, and to manuscripts of unusual interest.