Abstract Objectives Obesity is linked to excessive caloric intake, sleep behaviors, and the environment. Few studies explore the connection between wake-up time and obesity. This research aims to examine sleep patterns, timing, lifestyle, and sociodemographic factors associated with obesity among adolescents aged 15–17. Methods This cross-sectional study at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital’s Pediatric Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic from December 2023 to November 2024 included 453 adolescents (217 normal weight, 236 obese) without comorbidities. Data on demographics, sleep patterns, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and diet were collected via face-to-face questionnaires. Obese participants were classified into Class 1 and Class 2–3 based on body mass index. Results Obese participants woke up significantly later on weekdays (p=0.001). While normal-weight adolescents often woke between 7:00 and 8:00 AM, more obese adolescents woke after 9:00 AM. They also slept for more than 9 h more often (p=0.002). Obese adolescents spent more than 3 h in sedentary activity (p=0.022). Those with Class 2–3 obesity who did not exercise and had prolonged sedentary time were more common. Bedtimes did not differ significantly. Conclusions A delayed morning wake-up time was significantly associated with obesity among adolescents. Sleep timing appears to be as relevant to metabolic health as sleep duration. Reduced physical activity coupled with increased sedentary behavior is associated with obesity. Therefore, advocating for improved sleep hygiene, fostering consistent physical activity routines, and implementing behavioral awareness training in adolescents should be regarded as essential elements of obesity prevention initiatives.
Turhan et al. (Tue,) studied this question.