Relationship between sleep habits, anthropometric characteristics and lifestyle habits in adolescents with intellectual disabilities.
Teens with ID who go to bed and rise early move more and weigh less.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team asked teens with intellectual disability about bedtimes, wake times, and screen use. They also wore activity trackers for a week and had height and weight measured.
The goal was to see if sleep timing links to body weight and daily movement in this group.
What they found
Early-to-bed/early-to-rise teens logged more steps and less sitting time. Late-bed teens were more likely to be overweight or obese.
The pattern held regardless of how long each teen slept.
How this fits with other research
Mikulovic et al. (2014) found the same link in adults with ID. Early risers were leaner and more active, so the teen data simply extend the age range downward.
Laxton et al. (2026) show adults with ID sit about eight hours daily. Adding sleep-timing questions could help you spot who is at highest risk for long sedentary bouts.
Maaskant et al. (2013) report that older adults with ID have weak, broken circadian rhythms. That looks like a contradiction, but the older group also had more illness and sensory loss. Poor health, not age itself, likely blunts the early-rise benefit.
Why it matters
You already track behavior and weight. Now add one quick sleep-timing question: “What time do you usually turn the lights off?” If the answer is after 11 p.m., plan an earlier bedtime routine and schedule morning walks or jobs. Small shifts can raise activity and lower obesity risk without extra equipment.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
The aim was to explore the relationship between sleep habits and overweight/obesity, physical activity and sedentary behaviours in French adolescents with intellectual disabilities. This observational study was conducted on 535 French adolescents with intellectual deficiency. Sleep habits were analyzed and related to anthropometric measures, physical activity and sedentary behaviours. The study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. Adolescents completed the questionnaire during an interview with the principle investigator. Sleep timing behaviour was classified into 4 sleep patterns: Early-bed/Early-rise, Early-bed/Late-rise, Late-bed/Late-rise, and Late-bed/Early-rise. Of 573 eligible participants, 125 were excluded because of missing data on age, weight or height. The number of participants identified in each of the four sleep patterns was as follows: Early-bed/Early-rise, N=59 (15.4%), Early-bed/Late-rise, N=164 (43%), Late-bed/Early-rise, N=56 (15%), Late-bed/Late-rise N=102 (27%). Adolescents who woke up early were more active than those from the late rise group (p<0.001). The number of adolescents who are sedentary was higher in late rise vs. early rise subjects (p<0.001). Subjects in the late-bed group were more likely overweight and obese (p<0.05). Results suggest that sleep behaviour was associated with overweight/obesity, physical activity and sedentary behaviour in adolescents with intellectual deficiency. Sleep behaviours should be considered in planning health promotion strategies.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2013 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2013.05.011