Eat less to sleep more – sleep-related disorders in obese children, a healthcare problem

Obesity has become one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide in children. The relationship between sleep disorders and pediatric obesity seems to be bidirectional because not getting enough sleep may cause the desire to eat more or unhealthy food which is the appanage of weight gain, while obesity itself increseas the risk of sleep disturbances in children and adolescents. Sleep is essential for physical health, mental health, immune function and cognition. Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form of sleep-disordered breathing, is characterized by repetitive episodes of total or partial obstruction of upper airway and is a highly recognised repercussion of obesity. Early recognition and treatment of this condition, in addition to weight loss strategies, could provide an opportunity for cardiovascular and metabolic risk reduction in obese children.