Sleep deprivation related to weight gain?
Monday, October 18, 2010 at 03:32PM Today's post written by Dr. Joanna. It's a great post. I know when I'm not getting enough sleep everything seems to get off course. I have a lack of patience and yes, cooking healthy meals gets pushed aside at times.
Read below how sleep deprivation could be effecting our children.
There seems to be a number of contributing factors to the obesity epidemic our nation is facing. Some of these include excessive caloric intake, decreased physical activity and cultural influences. Now some researchers are investigating whether sleep deprivation may contribute to obesity.
Research presented at the International AC21 Research Festival points out that short sleep duration may lead to obesity through an increase of appetite via hormonal changes caused by the sleep deprivation. Lack of sleep can produce the hormone Ghrelin which can stimulate appetite and creates less Leptin which suppresses appetite.
Babies and children under the age of 5 getting less than 10 hours of sleep at night are more likely to be overweight or obese 5 years later. Insufficient sleep at night may be a lasting risk factor for obesity later in life (napping cannot replace the benefits of nighttime sleep). Babies and children up to age 4 who didn’t sleep enough at night were 80% more likely to be obese 5 years later. In older children (5-13) this same link to obesity was not seen.
As for kids, studies show that most are not getting enough sleep. There is an epidemic of childhood and adolescent obesity and video games and fast food are not solely to blame. Researchers uncovered that shortened sleep in children under 5 years old predicts weight problems later on. Also, short nighttime sleep duration increases the risk of early teens to shift from normal weight to overweight. In other words, adolescents who sleep less are more likely to pile on the pounds.
Sleep disorders in young children may be avoided by following established bedtime routines. Begin the calming down process at dinnertime. Dinner should not be served watching T.V. every night. After dinner, allow the child to have some quiet playtime. Offer puzzles, blocks or books ( as long as the activity is relatively quiet ). Run a warm bath and allow for some playtime in the bath. After the bath, get your child in a routine of getting their pajamas on, brushing their teeth and cleaning up. Put your child into bed with a few books ( or feel free to join in this time ). Set a limit and have some relaxing reading time before bed. Have the books seem like a special treat every night which will also help develop a love of reading. Most importantly, be firm with the bedtime routine. The less you deviate from it the easier it will become. This lets your child know what to expect each night. Repetition for young children especially, can be extremely comforting.
Many teen’s hectic schedules keep them up late many nights. Most teens need at least 8.5 hours of sleep. However, studies show 85% of teens are getting less than 8 hours every night. This sleep deficit causes many problems including adverse effects on their health causing weight gain. Some ways to prevent sleep disorders may be to avoid caffienated beverages after lunchtime and limit stimulating activities before bedtime. Also, limiting extracurricular activities and practicing relaxation techniques before bedtime such as gentle stretches help prevent symptoms of insomnia ( Resource-Mayo Clinic 2007).
So, are we overweight because we sleep less, or do we sleep less because we are overweight? Until we know these answers, it makes sense to include a good night’s sleep in any child’s routine. It turns out getting good, regular sleep may help to eat more regular meals which can be associated with better weight control. We should avoid using food as a “pick-me-up” when it turns out, it’s really just sleep we need!
Joanna
Reader Comments (3)
We follow this kind of bedtime routine, and don't have any trouble getting the kids to fall asleep. Our problem, though, is keeping the kids asleep all night. I expect some nighttime disturbances occasionally (teething, bad dreams,etc) but not every night like I'm dealing with. Any suggestions?
Hi Wendy! I wish I had some great advice. I have a hard time getting the girls to sleep but then they sleep for 12 hours straight. Together we have the perfect sleep pattern..hehe
Ha ha! Wow, I can't imagine sleeping for 12 hours! I think eight would be my absolute limit.
I noticed about two weeks ago, when we had some pretty cool evenings, that my 1yo didn't seem to have any problems sleeping then, but once it warmed back up she had restless nights again. So, after her bath last night, instead of putting her in footie jammies, I put her in a loose nightgown and guess what? She slept all night! I think I may have found my answer after all!
Thanks for the great article. I do believe there is a connection to sleep deprivation and weight gain/obesity. I know when I'm not sleeping well, I spend my day snacking and munching, as if that will give me the energy to make it to bedtime. Tired brains just don't make the healthiest choices. I'm going to remember this article the next time I'm reaching for a fudge round!