A study has found that kids who do not get enough sleep are more likely to be overweight than their peers who do get enough sleep.
The researchers found that children who got less sleep were more likely to be overweight and have 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. The study noted that sleep experts recommend that children ages 5 to 12 sleep for 10 to 11 hours a night and adolescents sleep for 8 to 9 hours. But the researchers said children in the study at age 7 on average got less than 10 hours of sleep on weekdays and at age 14 got 8.5 hours of sleep on weekdays.
The study did not try to determine why children who sleep less weigh more, but some theories that they put forth were because of hormone imbalances, additional time in the day to eat, or a lack of energy during exercise or play time.
Personally, I think that a regular sleeping schedule is the most important way to maintain good health no matter what your age, followed by finding and getting the amount of sleep that your body needs. What I do not understand is why elementary schools begin later than high schools, when the younger children tend to go to bed earlier and can wake up easier in the morning than teenagers who stay up later and need a full night’s sleep to support the growth of their bodies.
This is the first time that I have seen anybody make the claim that less sleep could lead to weight gain compared to peers who get enough sleep, but the premise certainly seems plausible. When I have children, my goal would be to have them get enough sleep to support their growing bodies and minds, and this is just one more reason why it is so important.
Thanks to Raising 4 Boys for the heads up.
I have been hearing lately that it is important to get enough sleep (in general) but specifically if you are trying to lose weight. By not getting enough sleep you keep yourself (somehow) from losing weight.
This is interesting to me because my brother and I have always been opposites in sleep patterns and BMI. My bro has always been slim and considered sleep vitally important. I have always been overweight (until recently) and consider sleep an option at best and often a necessary annoyance. I have been trying to get a better grasp of my sleep patterns the last couple of years and have also lost 85 pounds during that time. I don’t want it to sound like I used sleep as a magic pill for losing 85 lbs., but realized that with the massive increase in physical activity I needed more recovery time.
I make it a goal to get 7 hours of sleep a night and sometimes actually get close to getting that much.
Convincing my boys to get enough sleep is a constant challenge. Due to my lifestyle, we raised them to be night people. Getting them to bed in time for school is a challenge pretty much every night.
I’ve read several studies over the years linking sleep and weight gain/loss.
I can say that public school schedules are as much political as cultural and one reason the schedule disparity still exists. Plus, high schools have afterschool sports, activities and need teacher-volunteers; most elementary schools don’t (and instead may offer a paid afterschool program).