Sleepiness in children linked to obesity, asthma

Hershey, Pa. Obese, asthmatic, anxious or depressed children are more likely to experience excessive daytime sleepiness, or EDS, according to Penn State College of Medicine sleep researchers. "Although EDS in children is commonly assumed by physicians and the public to be the result of sleep-disordered breathing or inadequate sleep, our data suggest that EDS in young children is more strongly associated with obesity and mood issues as it is in adults," said Edward Bixler, professor of psychiatry and vice chair of research at the Sleep Research and Treatment Center. EDS is the inability to stay awake during the day, while sleep-disordered breathing is a group of disorders that includes sleep apnea, characterized by pauses in breathing. "EDS may interfere with daytime functioning in children, including academic performance," said Bixler. "Although excessive daytime sleepiness in adults has been the focus of extensive research, studies on the risk factors associated with EDS in children have been limited." The researchers studied 508 children and found EDS in 15 percent of them. "Our study indicates that EDS is highly prevalent in children, a symptom that may adversely affect daytime functioning," said Bixler.