Abstract
Sleep is a physiological process that fulfils an important homeostatic function. Short sleep duration (SSD) is defined as sleep that is substantially shorter than the optimal duration of 8-hours for adolescents and adults (18 years and above), and 9-hours for children (3-17 years). Insufficient sleep is associated with adverse health outcomes such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, stroke, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and other chronic kidney diseases. Globally, 30% of the children with obesity have been reported to experience sleep disorders. The present review has been aimed to describe the association between SSD and weight gain during childhood using a sample of school-going children (5-17 years). Specifically, based on a systematic meta-analysis of original research articles, it aimed to assess the impact of SSD on school-going children. Findings showed that SSD is a risk factor for children aged 5-17 years who experience insufficient sleep (< 9 hours/day). Epidemiological studies such as case-control, observational, follow-up, and meta-analysis studies confirm SSD as a risk factor for the development of obesity and other diseases through various mechanisms. Thus, based on numerous studies on SSD in children, it is confirmed as a risk factor for childhood obesity. It is therefore recommended to prevent SSD to avoid future complications.