Researchers found the less sleep third-graders get the more likely they are to be obese in the
sixth grade… no matter what the child’s weight was in the third-grade.
Dr. Brett Parkinson with Mountain Medical gives us a breakdown of the study.
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A recent study from the University of Michigan Center for Human Growth and Development suggests a link between sleep deprivation in youngsters and childhood obesity. Dr. Julie Lumeng, lead author of the study published in the November issue of Pediatrics, reported that “children who got less sleep were more likely to be obese.” Data regarding sleep problems, sleep duration and Body Mass Index (BMI) were analyzed from 785 elementary school children, ages 9 to 12. The researchers found that even adjusting for potentially confounding factors–such as family income, parents’ education, race and overall quality of the home environment–the association between less sleep and heavier weight was still apparent.
RESULTS OF THE STUDY:
• Third-graders who averaged less than nine hours and 45 minutes sleep/night had obesity rate of 20%
• Third-graders who averaged more than nine hours and 45 minutes sleep/night had obesity rate of 12%
• Sixth-graders who averaged less than 8.5 hours sleep/night had obesity rate of 23%
• Sixth-graders who averaged more than 9.25 hours/sleep had obesity rate of 12%
• Children who were sleep deprived in third grade had 40% higher odds of being obese in sixth grade
RESULTS OF OTHER STUDIES ON CHILDHOOD OBESITY
• Drexel University College of Medicine (2006)–Described a a link between decreased sleep duration and insulin resistance in obese children, leading to weight gain
• University of Warwick Medical School, UK (2006)–In a study of 28,000 children, found that shorter sleep duration was associated with an almost two-fold increase risk of childhood obesity
• Laval University of Quebec (2006)–Study of 422 grade-school children in Quebec. Children who slept 10.5 to 11.5 hours were 40% more likely to be obese than their counterparts who slept 12 to 13 hours
• University of Chicago (2004)–Reported that sleep loss alters levels of circulating hormones that regulate hunger, thus leading to weight gain in children
• Japanese Study (2002)–Published study that showed that children who slept less than 8 hours were three times more likely to be obese than those who slept ten or more hours
WHAT IS THE POSTULATED MECHANISM FOR LACK OF SLEEP LEADING TO OBESITY?
• Sleep deprivation results in hormone changes that increase appetite.
• Too little sleep produces Ghrelin which, among other things, stimulates appetite; and decreases leptin which suppresses appetite
WHAT ARE THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH CHILDHOOD OBESITY?
• Heart Disease
• Type 2 diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Sleep apnea (a potentially life-threatening sleep disorder, characterized by brief but numerous breathing pauses during sleep)
The best way to combat this sleep-related obesity threat is to make sure that our children get enough sleep.
SUGGESTIONS FOR PARENTS
• Enforce a regular, age-appropriate bedtime
• Encourage vigorous, regular day-time exercise
• Remove televisions, cell phones, computers and other electronic distractions from bedrooms
NATIONAL SLEEP FOUNDATION RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHILDREN
• Preschoolers: 11-13 hours
• Elementary school students: 10-12 hours
• Pre-teens: 9-11 hours
• Teens: 8 1/2 – 9 hours
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ABOUT MOUNTAIN MEDICAL PHYSICIAN SPECIALISTS
Mountain Medical Physician Specialists is a partnership of over 50 board-certified radiology and vascular professionals providing patients along the Northern Wasatch Front with the latest imaging and vascular care available. Mountain Medical professionals specialize in vascular surgery, vascular and interventional radiology, CT, neuroradiology, orthopedic imaging, MRI, women’s imaging, ultrasound, nuclear medicine and body imaging.
For more information visit www.mtnmedical.com.
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