Sleep Problems Could Increase Risk Of Obesity In Children
A new study that was published in The Journal of Pediatrics last week links lack of sleep and other problems with a higher risk of childhood obesity.
The study was conducted by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and looked at the effects of a chronic lack of sleep on young children and how that affected their health later in life. The researchers followed nearly 1,900 children from birth to fifteen years of age and watched those in a group who had no sleep problems and compared them to other groups of children who either experienced a chronic lack of sleep or SDB (sleep disordered breathing) as well as those who experienced both problems, something that had not previously been looked at in much detail as it relates to obesity. What the study revealed was that children who got very little sleep at the ages of 5 and 6 and who also suffered from other sleep disturbances, such as snoring or sleep apnea, were a whopping 60-100 percent more likely to be obese by their adolescent years.
Researchers are unsure as to why this is the case. It could be some combination of the difference in establishing healthy lifestyle habits early on, genetics, poor nutrition and nutrient deficiencies, or some combination thereof.
The obesity and sleep study was authored by Karen Bouck, professor of family and social medicine and of obstetrics & gynecology and women’s health, who said that a “lack of sleep has become a well-recognized risk for childhood obesity” but that risk now seems to dramatically increase when coupled with SDB. She hopes that this study will empower parents and caregivers to spot these early warning signs and address them before they turn into obesity and life long health problems. Most of these sleep problems can be fixed early on and, if parents know what to look for, they have a better chance of helping their children start off healthy for better health in later years.
With over 31 percent of American children overweight, obesity is a major problem in the United States for both children and adults and is a contributing factor in diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease — which is the leading cause of death in the U.S. Many organizations, doctors, and activists have recently taken up the cause of tackling America’s obesity crisis and are trying to provide better nutrition and healthier lifestyle choices for Americans of all ages including the U.S.’s new Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, former first daughter Barbara Bush, and first lady Michelle Obama.
If you think that your child may be suffering from sleep problems, consult a sleep specialist or other health care provider to see what you can do to help them and to avoid future obesity through proper sleep and a healthy diet.
[Image: Hindustan Times]
