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. 2022 May;76(5):765-771.
doi: 10.1038/s41430-021-01024-y. Epub 2021 Oct 26.

Changes in chronotype and social jetlag during adolescence and their association with concurrent changes in BMI-SDS and body composition, in the DONALD Study

Nicole Jankovic  1 , Sarah Schmitting  2   3 , Bettina Krüger  4 , Ute Nöthlings  2 , Anette Buyken  4 , Ute Alexy  2
Affiliations

Changes in chronotype and social jetlag during adolescence and their association with concurrent changes in BMI-SDS and body composition, in the DONALD Study

Nicole Jankovic et al. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2022 May.

Abstract

Background/objectives: Adolescence is a critical period for both the development of overweight and the transition toward a later chronotype, often accompanied by an increase in social jetlag. This study assessed whether changes in chronotype and social jetlag, are linked to changes in body composition during adolescence.

Subjects/methods: We used data from the DONALD open cohort study, collected between 2014 and 2019, from 213 adolescents (9-17 years at baseline, 45% females) having at least two measures of chronotype and anthropometry (N = 572). Chronotype was assessed with the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire and defined as: midpoint of sleep corrected for sleep-debt (MSFsc) accumulated over the week (later MSFsc represents later chronotype). Social jetlag (SJL) defines the difference between midpoint of sleep during week and weekend. Calculations for Fat Free Mass Index (FFMI [kg/m2)]) and Fat Mass Index (FMI) [kg/m2)]) were based on body fat percentage, weight, and height. To analyze the associations, we used linear mixed-effect regression models. Finally, the total cohort was split into three biologically relevant age groups (cut-off set at <12 years, ≥12 to ≤15 years and >15 years).

Results: Median follow-up was 2.1 years. Overall, change toward a later chronotype was significantly related with an increase in FMI (ß: 0.05, 95% CI: 0.01-0.08). A 1 h increase in social jetlag predicted an increase in BMI-SDS of 0.08 SDS units (95% CI: 0.01-0.14) and in FMI of 0.04 kg/m2 (95% CI: 0.003-0.08). Associations were stronger for the age group ≥12 to ≤15 years (p for interaction: <0.001). No relationship was found with FFMI.

Conclusions: Changes in MSFsc and SJL during adolescence were associated with concurrent changes in BMI-SDS and FMI. The age ≥12 to ≤15 years appears to be a sensitive period in which chronobiological changes were clearly associated with increasing body fatness.

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Conflict of interest statement

The DONALD Study is financially supported by the Ministry of Science and Research of North Rhine Westphalia, Germany. This analysis was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation)-AL 1794/1–2. The authors report no competing interests. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper. SS, AB, UA and NJ conceived and designed the work that led to the submission. All authors played an important role in interpreting the results. NJ drafted the paper and all coauthors revised and approved the current paper. The corresponding author confirms that she has had full access to the data in the study and final responsibility for the decision to submit for publication.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Study Flow Diagram for participant data from the DONALD Study.
1Munich Chronotype Questionnaire Assessments (MCTQ) started in the DONALD Study. 2Participants above the age of 18 years were considered as being adult. 3Necessary exclusion criteria for the overall analyses, evident after the assessment of model assumptions.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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