الفهرس 
CHILDHOOD ObesityOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
O
besity is a major problem in Egypt as it is a developing country. Increasing rates of overweight/obesity in children & adolescents in Egypt signal a very alarming trend. It has been estimated that; 15% of Egyptian school-aged children are obese in early 2010, in comparison with its 1990 estimate of only 6% of them being overweight or obese.
Obesity is associated with a large number of debilitating and life-threatening disorders. Genetics, behavior and family environment play an important role in childhood overweight.
Currently, there is an interest in the possible association between sleep and obesity. Sleep processes help in the regulation of secretion of the hormones related to growth and energy homeostasis and thus play an important role in the growth, maturation and health of children and adolescents. Sleep disturbances in children represent highly common phenomena that, in severe forms, can interfere with daily patient and family functioning.
This study aimed to assess the relationship between sleep habits and childhood obesity in children selected randomly from the Outpatient Clinic in Pediatric Hospital of Ain-Shams University.
This observational cross sectional case control study was conducted on 100 Egyptian children, their ages ranged from 6-12 years. They were 50 cases; 25 males (50%) and 25 females (50%), compared to 50 age matched controls; 23 males (46%) and 27 females (54%).
All patients had full medical history taking with special emphasis on; personal data (name, age, sex, order of birth, number of siblings, address and special habits), dietetic history and socio-economic standard of their families.
Full clinical examination was done with special emphasis on anthropometric measurements including; weight, height, BMI for age and Z-score for BMI.
A questionnaire on sleep behaviors (Child Sleep Habits Questionnaire) was fulfilled by each parents. This questionnaire had 33 questions grouped into 8 subscales reflecting the following sleep domains: bedtime resistance, sleep onset delay, sleep duration, sleep anxiety, night waking, parasomnias, sleep-disordered breathing and daytime sleepiness.
Parents were asked to recall sleep behaviors occurring over a “typical” recent week. Items were rated on a three-point scale: “usually” if the sleep behavior occurred 5-7 times/week; “sometimes” for 2-4 times/week; and “rarely” for 0-1 time/week.
Results of the present study showed that; no significant differences were observed between both cases and controls as regard: age, sex and parents’ education level (p>0.05).
We also found that, there was a significant difference between both groups in the number of siblings (p=0.004).
In the present study, 72% of cases had bedtime resistance compared to 14% among controls (p<0.01).
We also found that, 68% of cases had sleep onset delay compared to 14% among controls (p<0.01).
In the present study, 68% of cases had sleep duration abnormalities compared to 12% among controls (p=0.00).
As regard sleep anxiety in our study, 60% of cases needed their parents while going to sleep compared to 12% among controls, 62% of cases were afraid of sleeping in the dark compared to 14% among controls, 60% of cases were afraid of sleeping alone compared to 12% among controls, while 60% of cases had troubles sleeping away compared to 10% among controls (p<0.01).
As regard waking during the night in the the present study, 64% of cases suffered from it compared to 12% among controls (p<0.01).
As regard parasomnia in the present study, 64% of cases suffered from it compared to 12% among controls (p<0.01).
We also found that, regarding sleep disordered breathing; 66% of cases were snoring loudly compared to 12% among controls, 66% of cases suffered from stoppage of breathing during sleeping compared to 6% among controls, while 66% of cases suffered from snorts and gasps during sleeping compared to 4% of controls (p=0.00).
The present study revealed that, 50% of cases had daytime sleepiness compared to 14% among controls (p<0.01).
Thus we can conclude that, the current study has given us a base for the overwhelming fact that, our children are directly affected by and at risk for obesity. It is a chronic medical condition that has enormous implications on health and can lead to many associated disease processes.
The results of the present study showed a strong association between excessive weight and increased risk of sleep problems which were broadly diffused in our population childhood.