Sleep and Obesity Risk in Children: A Systematic Review of Multiple Dimensions of Sleep

Objective: Our objective was to determine the relationship between sleep dimensions and obesity risk in the pediatric population. Methods: This systematic literature review was performed following PRISMA guidelines. Peer-reviewed original research focusing on sleep parameters in the pediatric population aged 0–18 years, with obesity risk measured using objective measures, was included. Results: The review analyzed 27 studies, comprising 85,669 participants aged 0–18 years. The majority of the studies observed an inverse relationship between short sleep duration and obesity risk, with insufficient sleep translating to negative weight status, increased waist circumference, and higher obesity prevalence. Sleeping late on both weekdays and weekends increases the risk of obesity. Only four studies assessed sleep quality, with inconsistent findings. Sleep duration and timing had a stronger effect on obesity risk than sleep quality. Conclusions: Sleep duration was an independent determinant of obesity risk in the pediatric population, while sleep timing and quality showed an inconsistent association.