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In a study that followed 591 children to the age of seven, researchers found that in general, children tended to sleep a little less on weekends than on weekdays, and during the summer compared with other months.
Those who were particularly "short sleepers" at age seven were at greater risk of being overweight or having behavioural problems, the researchers report in the medical journal Sleep.
They found that children who slept less than nine hours per night were three times as likely as longer sleepers to be overweight or obese.
Similarly, short sleepers were more likely to have behavioural issues and symptoms of attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder, based on questionnaires given to parents and teachers.
What the findings mean
The findings suggest that inadequate sleep may contribute to both weight and behavioural problems in young children, according to the researchers, led by Dr Edwin A. Mitchell of the University of Auckland in New Zealand.
Past studies have hinted that insufficient sleep can encourage weight gain. Though the reasons aren't clear, one theory is that sleep deprivation alters hormones involved in appetite control and metabolism.
In the current study, Mitchell pointed out, the link between sleep deprivation and weight remained when the researchers accounted for the children's exercise habits and TV watching - two key factors in children's risk of becoming overweight.
This suggests that there is a "real" effect of sleep deprivation on weight, he said.
10 - 11 hours recommended
In general, experts recommend that school-age children get 10 to 11 hours of sleep per night, while preschoolers should get 11 to 13 hours.
On average, the seven-year-olds in the current study got 10 hours of sleep.
The findings, according to Mitchell's team, underscore the importance of children getting the recommended amount of sleep. "Our findings suggest that sleep duration may be at least in part a modifiable risk factor for other poor health outcomes in childhood, including obesity." – (ReutersHealth)
Read more:
Sleep may keep kids thin
Less sleep, bigger belly
