Lorenzo Tonetti1, Monica Martoni2, Marco Filardi3, Marco Fabbri4, Alicia Carissimi5, Sara Giovagnoli6, Vincenzo Natale7. 1. Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, 40127, Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: lorenzo.tonetti2@unibo.it. 2. Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, DIMES, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, 40127, Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: monica.martoni@unibo.it. 3. Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, DIBINEM, University of Bologna, Via Altura 3, 40139, Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: marco.filardi@unibo.it. 4. Department of Psychology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Viale Ellittico 31, 81100, Caserta, Italy. Electronic address: marco.fabbri@unicampania.it. 5. Laboratório de Cronobiologia e Sono Do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul (UFRGS), Ramiro Barcelos 2350, CEP 90035-003, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Psiquiatria e Ciências Do Comportamento, Faculdade de Medicina, UFRGS, Ramiro Barcelos 2350, CEP 90035-003, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Electronic address: alicia.ufrgs@gmail.com. 6. Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, 40127, Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: sara.giovagnoli@unibo.it. 7. Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, 40127, Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: vincenzo.natale@unibo.it.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the variations of circadian activity rhythm of children according to objective body mass index (BMI) values, using a novel statistical framework (ie, Functional Linear Modeling, FLM), separately for school- and weekend days. METHODS: A total of 107 participants (60 females; mean age: 10.25 ± 0.48 years) wore an actigraph for seven days during a regular school-week. While valid actigraphic data during school days were available for each of these children, this number decreased to 53 (31 females; mean age: 10.28 ± 0.51 years) during weekend days. RESULTS: Examining the school days, significantly higher motor activity in participants with higher BMI was observed from around 4:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m., with a peak about 5:00 a.m. On the contrary, applying the FLM to the weekend days actigraphic data, no significantly different variation of circadian activity rhythm was observed, according to BMI. CONCLUSIONS: In this specific sample of children, during school days, higher BMI is associated with higher activity level in a specific time window in the second half of nocturnal sleep. The lack of significant findings during weekend days could be explained because of higher variability of get-up time and/or the reduced sample size. Future longitudinal studies could explore if the higher motor activity in that specific time window qualifies as a predictive marker of the development of overweight and obesity. If so, early preventive strategies directed towards those at higher risk could be effectively implemented.
BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the variations of circadian activity rhythm of children according to objective body mass index (BMI) values, using a novel statistical framework (ie, Functional Linear Modeling, FLM), separately for school- and weekend days. METHODS: A total of 107 participants (60 females; mean age: 10.25 ± 0.48 years) wore an actigraph for seven days during a regular school-week. While valid actigraphic data during school days were available for each of these children, this number decreased to 53 (31 females; mean age: 10.28 ± 0.51 years) during weekend days. RESULTS: Examining the school days, significantly higher motor activity in participants with higher BMI was observed from around 4:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m., with a peak about 5:00 a.m. On the contrary, applying the FLM to the weekend days actigraphic data, no significantly different variation of circadian activity rhythm was observed, according to BMI. CONCLUSIONS: In this specific sample of children, during school days, higher BMI is associated with higher activity level in a specific time window in the second half of nocturnal sleep. The lack of significant findings during weekend days could be explained because of higher variability of get-up time and/or the reduced sample size. Future longitudinal studies could explore if the higher motor activity in that specific time window qualifies as a predictive marker of the development of overweight and obesity. If so, early preventive strategies directed towards those at higher risk could be effectively implemented.
Authors: Lorenzo Tonetti; Alicia Carissimi; Marco Fabbri; Marco Filardi; Sara Giovagnoli; Monica Martoni; Vincenzo Natale Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-11-12 Impact factor: 3.390