Could your child’s sleep loss affect his weight?
According to new research, children who do not get adequate sleep are more likely to be overweight by middle school. (Say what??) Researchers have found that every additional hour per night a third-grader spends sleeping reduces the child’s chances of being obese in sixth grade by 40 percent. The ideal sleep period for these kids seemed to be about nine hours and 45 minutes.
Lack of sleep plays havoc with two hormones that are the “yin and yang of appetite regulation,” said endocrinologist Eve Van Cauter of the University of Chicago, who was not involved in the new study.
In experiments by Van Cauter and others, sleep-deprived adults produced more ghrelin, a hormone that promotes hunger, and less leptin, a hormone that signals fullness.
Another explanation: Tired kids are less likely to exercise and more likely to sit on the couch and eat cookies, [Dr. Julie] Lumeng said.
Every child is different, but kids who don’t get enough sleep risk far more than just nodding off in class. Fair enough…but how can parents help their kids sleep better? A related article suggests several tips for parents, including:
Keep electronics (tvs, video games, cell phones, etc.) out of the bedroom.
Don’t let kids sleep too late on the weekend.
Keep a consistent wake-up time during the week.
Have a regular bedtime routine for them.
Posted by Sunshining.
