Sleep Well To Prevent Obesity

By Suparna Chakaraborthy

Wednesday, May 5, 2010, 16:05

Inadequate sleep is no longer the problem of old age alone. Due to growing study pressures, school going children are also suffering from sleep disorder. Sleep disorder effects health and the most disastrous effect is weight gain. This may also lead to childhood obesity.

The Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS), has presented their research on the subject. In the study, the research have conducted a study on 723 adolescents (mean age 14.7 years) about how long they slept on weeknights and weekends, and how frequently they experienced sleep problems.

The report of their previous day food habits was also taken. The participants were asked to wear a accelerometers on their belts for seven days. The device unlike pedometers, measured the participants weight, body mass index (BMI) and percentage of body fat.

Results showed that shorter sleep duration or disturbed sleep was related to higher BMI. The relation between sleep and BMI was more prevalent among the boys. The girls showed minor relation between sleep and BMI.

"Sleep has long been recognized as an important health behavior. We are just beginning to recognize its relationship to overweight and obesity in children and adults alike," said one of the researchers.