Human Services News

From EurekAlert! - Breaking News:

Further, children who don't get enough nightly sleep are more likely to be overweight and have behavioral problems, according to a study published in the January 1 issue of the journal SLEEP.

The study, authored by Professor Ed Mitchell, of the University of Auckland in New Zealand, focused on 591 seven-year-old children whose sleep duration was assessed by actigraphy (a non-invasive method used to study sleep-wake patterns and circadian rhythms by assessing movement) at four different stages of their young lives: at birth, at one year, at three-and-a-half years and at seven years.

Children who slept less than nine hours were more likely to be overweight or obese and to have a 3.34 percent increase in body fat than those who slept for more than nine hours.

"Sleep is important for health and well-being throughout life," said Professor Mitchell.

Short sleep duration was associated with a three-fold increased risk of the child being overweight or obese.

Attention to sleep in childhood may be an important strategy to reduce the obesity epidemic."

Set aside 10 to 30 minutes to get your child ready to go to sleep each night.

Keep your children from TV programs, movies, and video games that are not right for their age.

Parents who suspect that their child might be suffering from a sleep disorder are encouraged to consult with their child's pediatrician or a sleep specialist.

SLEEP is the official journal of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, LLC, a joint venture of the AASM and the Sleep Research Society.

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