Kids Who Get Less Sleep Weigh More. Is That Right Or Wrong?

Yes it is right .Children who do not get enough sleep are more likely to be over eight than those who get more, according to a study published that tracked more than 2000 US kids for five years. Researchers at north-western University in Evanston Illinois used detailed diaries kept by families to examine children's sleep behaviour and its relationship with weight.

According to lead researcher Emily Snell, children who get less sleep tend to weigh more five years later. Snell and colleagues Emma Adam and Greg Duncan determined that an extra hour of sleep cut the likelihood of being over weight from 36 per cent to 30 percent in children age's three to eight and from 34 to 30 per cent in those ages 8 to 13.

The researchers found that children who get less sleep were more likely to be over weight and higher body mass index measures than those who got more sleep even when factors such as race, ethnicity and parents, income and educational level were considered.

Not getting enough sleep may affect hormones that influence appetite, getting less sleep for example; staying up an hour later at night may provide more opportunity to eat. Enough sleep may leave a person more lethargic, cutting down on exercise.

Add Comment

Report

I never heard that one before!

I doubt it's true. My eldest gets the most sleep in this house and he weighs less than his younger brother.

I think genetics is the main determining factor when it comes to body build.

Diet and lifestyle are the main factors when it comes to whether a child is overweight or not.

Breastfed babies tend to weigh more in the next 2 months (breast milk is easier to digest than formula). Formula-fed babies weigh more after about 8 weeks old, for reasons that aren't entirely clear. This early milk feeding choice has a life-long affect.

Sleep deprived children will have stunted growth -- children do more of their physical growing while asleep. But we're talking about children who don't sleep as much as they'd like, not children who naturally don't need a huge amount of sleep.

And sleep is known to keep body weight down, because it keeps appetite-related hormones at an optimal balance (read more).

Add Comment

Report