Health Alert: Insufficient sleep can lead to excessive weight in children

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  Insufficient sleep can lead to excessive weight in children

Chronic sleep loss during infancy and early childhood could lead to excessive weight in later years, a new research has unraveled.

Some 1046 children in Massachusetts were studied with focusing on several factors, according to the study report conducted by the researchers from MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC).

They collected data by doing interviews with children’s mothers about the kids’ nighttime sleep habits at 6 months, 3 years, and 7 years old.

The mothers were also asked to fill out questionnaires nearly every year of their child’s life.

The team categorized the collected reports and assigned sleep scores to the children based on their reported sleep duration over time.

The investigators also examined the children at the age of seven and measured their height, weight, lean body mass and abdominal fat.

Analysis of the results indicated that children with the lowest sleep scores had the highest levels of all body measurements reflecting obesity and adiposity, including abdominal fat which is considered to be particularly hazardous.

“Our study found convincing evidence that getting less than recommended amounts of sleep across early childhood is an independent and strong risk factor for obesity and adiposity,” said the lead author Elsie Taveras, MD, MPH, chief of General Pediatrics at MGHfC.

Meanwhile, the study revealed that lower sleep scores were more common in homes with lower incomes, less maternal education and among racial and ethnic minorities;

While the research could not find an evidence of a specific period during which insufficient sleep has greater influence on later obesity, researchers recommend some helpful ways that promote good sleep habits.

Setting a consistent bedtime, limiting caffeinated beverages late in the day and cutting out high-tech distractions in the bedroom help kids have good sleep.

Source: www.presstv.ir 

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