The impact of sleep duration and quality on the health of the pediatric population: consequences for mental health, eating disorders, and other diseases

Background Sleep is a fundamental biological process, the duration and quality of which are of key importance for the proper development and health of the pediatric population. Understanding the complex relationship between sleep and the pathogenesis of diseases during childhood is essential for developing effective preventive and interventional strategies aimed at supporting the holistic health of the youngest patients. Aim This review aims to provide an analysis of available scientific evidence regarding the impact of insufficient sleep duration and poor sleep quality on a wide range of health indicators in children and adolescents. Special emphasis is placed on the consequences for mental health and eating disorders. Materials and methods This review synthesizes current evidence by examining literature available on PubMed, Google Scholar, and academic sources using keywords related to the sleep duration, sleep quality, pediatric population, mental health and eating disorders. Experimental, cohort, systematic reviews and clinical studies were evaluated. Results We highlight sex- and age-dependent vulnerabilities and discuss the multifactorial interplay between sleep behavior, lifestyle factors, and disease risk.Specifically, interventions aimed at improving sleep hygiene, reducing screen exposure before bedtime, and addressing sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea show promise in mitigating risks associated with obesity, hypertension, emotional disorders, and chronic inflammation. Conclusion Sleep duration and sleep quality contributes to pediatric obesity, insulin resistance, cardiometabolic risk, mental health, inflammatory processes and headache disorders. Limitations in current research, including methodological heterogeneity and reliance on subjective sleep measures, underscore the need for prospective studies. We recommend future research focus on mechanistic pathways linking sleep disturbances to specific health outcomes.