Social Jetlag Is Associated with the Frequency of Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and a High BMI Percentile in Adolescents: Results of the Cross-Sectional Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) Study.

Background: Social jetlag (SJL) occurs in adolescents due to misalignment of the biological and social clocks, so that most teens wake up earlier than their biological clocks on weekdays and delay bedtime and wake up time on weekends. This shift in sleep timing among adolescents is associated with an adverse endocrine and behavioral risk profile, in addition to increased food consumption and increased body mass index (BMI).

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the association between SJL, and the frequency of consumption of multiple food and beverage groups and BMI percentile in adolescents.

Design: Publicly available data from the cross-sectional Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) study were analyzed.

Participants: Participants from the FLASHE study were recruited from all regions of the United States between April and October 2014. Among the 1,581 adolescents aged 12 through 17 years in the original study, 1,556 with complete sleep data were analyzed.

Main Outcome Measures: The difference between the frequency of dietary consumption according to the Dietary Screener Questionnaire and BMI percentile was assessed in adolescents grouped according to SJL, as follows: no SJL: less than 1-hour difference; mild SJL: 1- to 2-hour difference; and severe SJL: more than 2-hour difference.

Statistical Analyses Performed: Differences in the frequency of food consumption were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Secondary outcomes were analyzed using logistic regression models.

Results: Daily consumption frequency of sugar-sweetened beverages and fruits and vegetables differed among the 3 groups. Likewise, the BMI percentile differed among the 3 groups and was highest in the severe SJL group. Those in the severe SJL group had a 1.84-fold higher probability of having overweight or obesity (95% CI 1.83 to 1.84) than those in the no SJL group.

Conclusions: Severe SJL is associated with a higher frequency of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and higher odds of having overweight or obesity compared with no SJL in adolescents.