Early Bedtime Linked to Low Obesity in Kids

Amy Taylor November 08, 2013

Childhood obesity is a growing concern worldwide. An investigation early this year revealed that nearly 1,000 children have been referred to hospitals in the last three years because of their weight. Now, a new study provides a helpful approach that may cut the risk of obesity in children – set an early bedtime schedule.

Researchers at Temple University in Philadelphia, USA, found that when kids slept more per week, they consumed fewer calories and had lower fasting levels of hunger-regulating hormone leptin. They also weighed less. The new study involved 37 kids between the age of 8 and 11 who were obese or overweight. For the first week, all of the kids were asked to sleep in their normal amount each night. For the second week, they were assigned to either sleep for one and a half hours more or less than their normal sleep duration. In the third and final week, kids who were assigned to sleep less in the second week were asked to sleep more, whilst those who slept more were assigned to sleep less.

The researchers tracked the sleep time of the study participants using wrist actigraphs.

Findings show that during the week when the kids slept more, they consumed 134 fewer calories per day, on average, and also weighed half a pound less than the week when they slept less. Furthermore, they also had lower fasting levels of leptin during the week they slept more.

The study was published in the journal Paediatrics.

“Findings from this study suggest that enhancing school-age children’s sleep at night could have important implications for prevention and treatment of obesity,” said lead author Dr Chantelle Hart. She is currently conducting a follow-up study to determine whether increased sleep produces changes in eating patterns, activity, and weight.

Quality sleep may not only help reduce the risk of childhood obesity. Previous studies show that it may also ward off attention and behavioural problems in kids.

Source of this article:

Kids Who Get More Sleep May Consume Fewer Calories