We already know that those who get between six and eight hours of sleep are more likely to successfully lose weight. We also know that insomnia encourages children to overeat.
Now a new study reported in the British Medical Journal found that a lack of sleep in children can lead to an increase in their body mass index (BMI).
The study followed 244 children in New Zealand aged between three and seven years of age. It found that a one hour difference in night sleep between the ages of three and five was associated with a significant BMI difference of 0.56 by age seven (approximately 0.48kg of fat mass). Basically, a longer sleep duration led to a reduction in BMI with each extra hour of sleep.
So why does there appear to be a link between a lack of sleep and obesity? In adults, it’s thought that those who get minimal amounts of sleep have lower levels of leptin (a hormone that helps suppress appetite) and higher levels of ghrelin (a hormone that stimulates hunger). It’s also been proposed that a lack of sleep not only makes us eat more, it also reduces the amount of energy we expend.
Unfortunately the link between obesity and lack of sleep can often turn into a vicious circle since obesity can create other conditions known to affect sleep – in particular, sleep apnea.
It’s worth mentioning that the authors of this study didn’t mention breastfeeding as a potential contributing factor – some studies have shown significant reductions in childhood BMI in children who have been breastfed. Furthermore, other studies have found that there is no evidence to suggest that an extra 30 minutes to an hour of sleep each night can help reduce weight problems in overweight children.
Still, it’s a further reminder of just how important sleep can be for the health and overall wellbeing of your child.
Source: British Medical Journal
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