Sleep Restriction Tied to Negative Cognitive Effects in Teens With Overweight, Obesity
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, May 22, 2024 -- Adolescents with overweight or obesity may be more vulnerable to negative cognitive effects following sleep restriction, according to a study published online May 20 in JAMA Neurology.
Lindsay M. Stager, from University of Alabama at Birmingham, and colleagues examined the effects of adiposity and sleep on adolescent cognitive function. The analysis included 61 adolescents (mean age, 16.3 years; 31 with healthy weight and 30 with overweight or obesity) who completed two sleep conditions: adequate (mean duration, 8 hours, 54 minutes) and restricted (mean duration, 4 hours, 12 minutes).
The researchers found that restricted sleep predicted poorer global cognition scores (restricted mean, 98.0 versus adequate mean, 103.2), fluid cognition scores (restricted mean, 94.5 versus adequate mean, 102.0), and cognitive flexibility scores (restricted mean, 84.8 versus adequate mean, 92.8) for adolescents with overweight or obesity. Among adolescents with healthy weight, there were no differences. Following restricted sleep, adolescents with overweight or obesity also had poorer attention scores (mean, 80.0) versus adolescents with healthy weight (mean, 88.4). Following adequate sleep, there were no differences. Similar findings were seen for total body fat percentage.
"Improved sleep hygiene and duration in this group may positively impact their cognitive health," the authors write.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted May 2024
Read this next
Risk Factors for Alzheimer Disease Linked to Cognitive Function Before Midlife
THURSDAY, May 1, 2025 -- Risk factors for Alzheimer disease are associated with cognitive function starting in the mid-20s, according to a study published in the May issue of The...
Development of Severe Impairment Common in Long-Term Care Residents
THURSDAY, May 1, 2025 -- Development of severe permanent cognitive or functional impairment is common among residents admitted to long-term care (LTC), according to a study...
Autistic Traits Not Tied to Spatial Working Memory in Older Adults
THURSDAY, May 1, 2025 -- Spatial working memory (SWM) does not differ among older people with or without autistic traits, according to a study published online in the May issue of...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.