de Souza AA, Bandeira PFR, Vale SMCG, da Cunha GL, Mota JAPS, de Lucena Martins CM. Paths towards a healthier BMI among short and adequate sleepers: A pathway network analysis considering movement behaviors in low-income preschoolers.
Am J Hum Biol 2023;
35:e23915. [PMID:
37269167 DOI:
10.1002/ajhb.23915]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Short sleep duration has been seen as a predictor of higher body mass index (BMI) in youth. Sleep duration varies substantially along early childhood, and the paths towards a healthier BMI, considering the other movement behaviors (physical activity-PA and screen time) are unexplored in preschoolers.
AIM
To construct a sleep-BMI model to capture the direct and indirect paths to intervening towards a healthier BMI, according to low-income preschoolers' compliance with the other movement behaviors.
METHODS
Two hundred and seventy two preschoolers (4.5 ± 0.0; 138 boys) participated in the study. Sleep and screen time (ST) were assessed in a face-to-face interview with primary caregivers. PA was assessed using accelerometer (wGT3X-BT). Preschoolers were categorized as compliant or not with sleep, screen time, total and moderate to vigorous PA recommendations. BMIz-score was calculated according to preschoolers' sex and age. All the assessed variables, besides sex and age were included in a Network Pathway Analysis (NPA) according to age as nodes.
RESULTS
At 3 years old, a direct and negative path between sleep-BMIz score was observed. At four and 5 years old, this relationship became positive. Further, girls were more compliant with sleep, ST and total PA recommendations. Total PA (TPA) showed the highest expected influence value in the general, 3 and 4 years old NPA.
CONCLUSION
The NPA analysis showed different directions for the relationship between sleep and BMIz score, according to age. Intervention strategies to a healthier BMI among preschoolers compliant or not with sleep recommendations should focus in increasing TPA.
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