Children with the worst sleep disordered breathing (SDB) were twice as likely to be obese by 7,10 and 15 years of age. Children with the shortest sleep time were at 5 and 6 years had a 60-100% chance of being obese at 15 years. SDB and lack of sleep problems were equally strong risk factors for obesity but their effects were independent of each other the study that followed 2,0000 children for 15 years found.