Children who do not get sufficient sleep are at greater risk of developing obesity, according to a study published in April in Sleep.
Lack of sleep has been linked to negative health outcomes such as stroke, coronary heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and hypertension, according to the study. Among children, poor sleep has also been associated with behavior problems, including issues in school, the study noted.
Researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 42 studies, looking at the sleep duration of infants, children and adolescents and the association between sleep duration and overweight, obesity and body mass index. They found that short sleep — defined by National Sleep Foundation guidelines for children by age category — was linked to a higher risk of developing overweight or obesity across age groups. Sleep duration was also associated with changes in BMI.
“Our study highlights the need for a greater awareness of the importance of adequate sleep in children both for parents and for medical practitioners,” the researchers said. “Educational programs could be used to empower parents and children to improve sleep quality and maximize quantity.”
Lead study author Michelle Miller, PhD, MACadMEd, FFPH, FAHA, associate professor at the Warwick Medical School at the University of Warwick, recommended several interventions to encourage good sleep among children, including avoiding the use of electronic gadgets that emit blue light and delay sleep onset right before bedtime. She also suggested establishing a regular bedtime for children and a relaxing nighttime routine that could include reading a book or listening to calming music. Avoiding caffeine late in the day and creating a cool, dark sleeping environment are also helpful in promoting good sleep among children, Miller said. In addition, Miller recommended that parents talk to their children’s health care providers about developing healthy sleeping patterns.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 60 percent of middle school-age students and 70 percent of high school-age students do not get enough sleep. CDC recommends that children ages 6-12 get nine to 12 hours of sleep nightly and teens ages 13-18 get eight to 10 hours of sleep nightly.
For more information, visit https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article-abstract/41/4/zsy018/4833233.
- Copyright The Nation’s Health, American Public Health Association
