Exercise, Diet, and Obese Adolescents

Sleep deprivation or short sleep duration in adolescence is a reality and has increased in parallel to obesity in the past century. Different causes could explain the association between reduced sleep duration and obesity. This association seems to be related to both sides of the energy balance equation: energy intake and energy expenditure. In this sense, a combination of increased food intake and sedentary habits is encouraging adolescents to become more obese. The present chapter reviews the current evidence in support of mechanisms that might link short sleep and increased obesity risk in adolescence.