Summertime: Kids in Motion

Individuals of Mexican descent comprise the largest proportion of the Latino population in the United States and they suffer high rates of obesity. Short sleep is a risk factor for obesity. An improved understanding of the underlying behavioral mechanisms by which short sleep duration may impact obesity among Mexican American children is critical to prevent and/or reduce obesity and chronic disease in this population. This research will focus on behavioral mechanisms (i.e., diet and physical activity) that link sleep duration to obesity. Mexican American 8-10-year-olds will participate in a 3-week crossover study to examine: 1) contextual factors (i.e., bedtime routines, sleep hygiene, familism) that may impact sleep; and 2) the impact of prior night's sleep duration on diet and physical activity the subsequent day. This research design will make it possible to examine whether sufficient sleep is protective of energy balance (e.g., healthful dietary intake/patterns and physical activity) as well as contextual factors related sleep.