How does the balance of sleep, sedentary lifestyle and physical activity affect children’s heart health?

Combined associations of sleep duration, sedentariness & intensity-specific physical activity with non-communicable disease risk markers in childhood

Sleep, time spent sitting and physical activity are all known to be important for the immediate and long-term health of young people. But these factors tend to be investigated individually or in comparison to only one other health factor, for example – linking physical activity to childhood obesity. This means that there are gaps in our knowledge about how one behaviour (e.g. sleep) relates to another (e.g. physical activity), and how together these impact heart and circulatory health. Dr Paul Collings is embarking on a BHF Immediate Postdoctoral Basic Science Fellowship that will enhance our understanding of these links. He plans to study women and children who are already taking part in five large UK studies about activity and health. There is already a wealth of data available, ranging from physical activity during pregnancy to sleep patterns in young people. Dr Collings will use this information, together with measuring their amount of sleep, heart rate and movement. He hopes to answer several questions about the impact of maternal and child activity levels on heart health. The results will inform public health guidelines about the ideal levels of sleep and activity required for optimal childhood growth and wellbeing.