A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) found that adolescents with a body fat percentage over 42 percent are particularly vulnerable to cognitive decline after one night of poor sleep. Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Neurology, the research highlights the impact of body mass index and body fat on cognitive function in teenagers following inadequate sleep.
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The American Academy of Sleep Medicine advises that teenagers aged 13 to 18 should aim for eight to ten hours of sleep each night. However, late-night athletic practices and early school start times contribute to widespread sleep deprivation among this age group. Led by graduate student Lindsay Stager, Ph.D., and Dr. Aaron Fobian, an associate professor in UAB’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, the study titled "Effect of Sleep Restriction on Adolescent Cognition by Adiposity" emphasizes that teens with overweight or obesity are more affected by poor sleep than their peers with a healthy weight.
The randomized trial assessed 61 adolescents aged 14 to 19. Participants experienced two different sleep conditions: one night aimed at achieving an average of eight hours and 54 minutes of sleep, and another night limited to an average of four hours and 12 minutes. The order of these conditions was randomized for each participant. Cognitive abilities were evaluated each morning using the National Institutes of Health cognitive toolbox, which measures global and fluid cognition, memory, attention, and processing speed, crucial for day-to-day activities.
Results indicated that those with higher body fat percentages showed a significant decline in cognitive performance after a night of inadequate sleep, supporting the notion that elevated adiposity increases sensitivity to sleep deprivation. "Adolescents with elevated adiposity were impacted by just one night of short sleep," noted Dr. Fobian. "Our study suggests that adolescents with higher body fat are more sensitive to poor sleep than those with a healthy weight."
While the study highlighted the adverse effects of insufficient sleep associated with higher adiposity, it found no significant cognitive differences among participants when they received a sufficient amount of rest, regardless of body fat percentage. The findings underscore the necessity for all teenagers to obtain adequate sleep, prompting UAB researchers to offer guidance for parents.
Dr. Stager advised that parents can aid their teens by encouraging consistent wake times and limiting the variation to no more than two hours on weekends. Additionally, reducing media consumption before bedtime and halting all electronic use at least 30 minutes prior to sleep are recommended strategies.