Enhancing Sleep Duration: Effects on Children's Eating and Activity Behaviors-Renewal

Enhancing children's sleep may be a novel approach for prevention of obesity and
cardiovascular (CV) disturbance. Observational studies with children demonstrate that short
sleep increases risk of obesity and other CV risk factors. Randomized controlled trials with
children 8-11 years old demonstrate that enhancing sleep duration leads to positive changes
in eating and activity behaviors and weight status, particularly for children who enhance
their sleep the most. Enhancing sleep may be particularly important for racial minority
children and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds given their increased risk for short
sleep, obesity and CV risk factors. In this study two active obesity preventive interventions
will be evaluated: a) enhancing sleep alone (Optimize Sleep [OS]), and b) enhancing sleep
along with eating and activity behaviors that have demonstrated efficacy for obesity
prevention and are implicated in self-regulatory pathways related to sleep (i.e., energy
dense snack foods and beverages, TV viewing, and physical activity) (OS-Plus). Two hundred
four children 8-11 years old who are African American/black, primarily from low socioeconomic
backgrounds, and who sleep < 9.5 hours/night into a 12-month study will be enrolled. Children
will be randomly assigned to either OS or OS-Plus. Over the 6-month treatment phase, all
children will attend an 8-session treatment; monthly phone contacts will occur during
maintenance (6-12 months). Primary aim is to determine the efficacy of OS-Plus relative to OS
on change in body mass index z-score (BMIz) at end of treatment. Secondary aims will assess
efficacy of OS-Plus relative to OS on additional cardiometabolic risk factors, eating and
activity behaviors. Exploratory aims will assess maintenance of effects at 12 months.