Lack of Sleep Linked to Childhood Obesity

Lack of Sleep Linked to Childhood Obesity

Pediatrics magazine recently published a survey                                                                                    http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/peds.2010-0497v1 seeking to elucidate the connection between the duration and regularity of sleep and Body Mass Index among a group of 308 four to ten year olds. The study’s findings clearly link less sleep with metabolic problems in children.

The sobering conclusions:

“Obese children were less likely to experience ‘catch-up’ sleep on weekends, and the combination of shorter sleep duration and more-variable sleep patterns was associated with adverse metabolic outcomes. Educational campaigns, aimed at families, regarding longer and more-regular sleep may promote decreases in obesity rates and may improve metabolic dysfunction trends in school-aged children.”

The Importance of Sleep

“We sacrifice sleep to whatever else we do,” said Dr. Gozal, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Chicago. “But as parents we should be very attentive to preserving the treasure that is sleep — it means health for children’s brains and their bodies, their happiness and their well-being.” As quoted in the New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/01/health/research/01behavior.html?emc=eta1

Quick Tips for Easier Sleep

With such compelling evidence, it behooves parents to evaluate how much shut-eye their little ones are really getting and to take appropriate steps. Some ideas for transitioning to longer and better sleep, courtesy of Sleep Studio:

• Set a strict bedtime and enforce it – children aged 4-10 should be getting 10-12 hours of sleep per night according to the American Academy of Pediatrics
• Create a bedtime ritual that naturally winds children down, such as reading quietly, or story-time
• Restrict nighttime activities that excite close to bedtime
• Remove “entertainment” from the bedroom, including: TVs, game consoles, computers, and cell phones
• Create the ideal sleep environment, including comfortable bedding and a cool room temperature