There are many health risks associated with obesity, even for children. A new study suggests that sleep for children doesn’t just keep attention and behavioral problems at bay, it also may affect how much they eat.
Researchers from Temple University found that when children slept more than their usual amount for a week, they consumed few calories, had lower levels of the hunger- and weight regulating hormone leptin, and weighed less.
The three-week study included 37 children, ages 8-11, with about a quarter of the children being obese or overweight. During the first week, the children sleepy their normal amount each night. For the second week, the children were assigned to either sleep 1.5 hours more than their normal amount, or 1.5 hours fewer than their normal amount. In the third week, the children who slept more the previous week were asked to sleep less, while the children who slept less were asked to sleep more. Researchers measured their sleep time using wrist actigraphs.
During the week the children slept more, they consumed on average 134 fewer calories a day, they also weighed half a pound less than the week when they slept less. Levels of leptin were also lower during the week of getting more sleep.
While sleep isn’t a full weight loss program, it is a great way to help keep our children healthy. Promoting sleep early in life is a great habit to gift to your children. Not sure how much you and your family need? Find out here!
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