Insights into Childhood Obesity: Sleep Patterns, Vitamin D, and Metabolic Dynamics

Objective: The high prevalence of childhood obesity necessitates a deeper understanding of its underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and associated conditions to effectively address this public health concern. This study investigated the association between vitamin D levels, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and sleep patterns in the context of childhood obesity. Methods: This study used data from 115 obese children and adolescents aged 9.9–18 years, identified by body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) >95th percentile for the children receiving care at a Pediatric Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic. We collected sleep-related information, including onset time and duration, through direct parental questioning and compared these sleep patterns with key health indicators, such as vitamin D levels, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia. Results: Children who went to bed before 21:30 had the lowest mean HOMA-IR value (4.8±2.6), whereas children who slept between 21:30 and 23:00 (5.4±2.5) and after 23:00 (5.0±2.5) exhibited slightly higher values (p=0.374 and p=0.789, respectively). Similarly, children who went to bed earlier had lower mean levels of TC (158.7 mg/dl vs. 161.2 mg/dl), LDL (92.3 mg/dl vs. 95.6 mg/dl), and TG (84.1 mg/dl vs. 106.3 mg/dl) than those who slept later (p=0.743, p=0.619 and p=0.067, respectively). However, children who went to bed before 21:30 had significantly higher HDL levels (49.7 mg/dl vs. 44.3 mg/ dl, p=0.019). Regarding sleep duration and 25(OH)D levels, 58.0 % of children with 25(OH)D levels <20 µg/L slept ≤7 hours, whereas 42.0 % slept ≥8 hours. In contrast, 73.5 % of children with 25(OH)D levels ≥20 µg/L slept ≥8 hours, whereas only 26.5 % slept ≤7 hours (p=0.003). Conclusions: Earlier bedtimes and sufficient sleep duration are associated with reduced insulin resistance, more favorable lipid profiles, and higher vitamin D levels in obese children.