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Summary Youngsters who do not get enough sleep on a regular basis are more likely to be overweight.
A new study reveals that youngsters who do not get enough sleep on a regular basis are more likely to be overweight.The research found when children got more sleep they had a reduction in body mass index and a significant drop in their risk of being overweight. Poor sleep has negative effects on body composition. Study followed 244 children from the age of 3 years to 7 years. Every six months the childrens weight, height, body mass index and body composition were measured, and their sleep and dietary habits were recorded. The study revealed that children who consistently slept less had an increased risk of having a higher body mass index by the time they turned 7. On the other hand, among 3- to 5-year-olds, each extra hour of sleep per night was linked to a reduction in body mass index of 0.49 and a 61 percent drop in the risk of being overweight or obese by the age of 7. Sleep plays a critical role in childrens body composition. Prolonged lack of sleep may cause children to eat more and exercise less thus good sleep habits should be encouraged in children as a matter of public health.
