Abstract / Summary
BackgroundSleep quality and movement behaviors are key determinants of child health and play an important role in preventing overweight and obesity. In the Americas, these behaviors coexist with increasing screen exposure and sedentary lifestyles from early ages. However, the available evidence shows methodological heterogeneity and an incomplete assessment of sleep’s multidimensional nature. This scoping review aimed to map the scientific evidence on the relationship between sleep quality and movement behavior profiles in schoolchildren with overweight or obesity in the Americas.MethodsA scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A systematic search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and LILACS for studies published between 2002 and 2024. Observational and intervention studies examining movement behavior profile and sleep quality in school-aged children with overweight or obesity were included. The evidence was synthesized using descriptive narrative analysis.ResultsA total of 46 studies were included, most of which were conducted in the United States and Canada and predominantly used cross-sectional observational designs. Several studies used objective measures of movement behaviors and standardized sleep assessment tools. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was consistently associated with more favorable sleep outcomes, whereas sedentary behavior and nighttime screen exposure were linked to poorer sleep indicators. Important gaps remain in the multidimensional assessment of sleep quality and in understanding how movement behaviors interact within broader obesogenic and self-regulatory processes.ConclusionThe available evidence indicates that sleep quality, physical activity, and sedentary behavior are closely interconnected in school-aged children with overweight or obesity, forming movement behavior profiles associated with obesity risk. Behavioral self-regulation may represent an important yet insufficiently explored mechanism linking these factors. Future research should prioritize multidimensional sleep assessment and integrated movement-behavior approaches to support more effective school-based interventions and public health strategies across the Americas.