Kids Who Sleep Less Weigh More

Kids who do not get enough sleep weigh more than those who get more sleep, according to the study of the researchers at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

They examined kids sleep behavior and its relationship with weight using detailed diaries kept by their families.

According to the study, kids who get less sleep weigh more after five years.

It is also determined that extra hour of sleep cut the risk of being overweight from thirty six percent to thirty percent in kids aged three to eight and from thirty four to thirty percent in kids aged between eight to thirteen.

The study was conducted on 2281 kids aged between three to twelve and data was collected five years later.

The sleep diaries recorded the number of hours kids slept, what time they went to bed for sleep and at what time they woke up in the morning. Along with sleep timings, their height and weight also recorded.

The researchers found that kids got less sleep were more likely to be overweight and have high body mass index than those who got more sleep.

Researchers came out with few explanations about the kids who slept less weigh more. Kids who did not get enough sleep may be affected by hormones which influence appetite.

If the kid stays an hour extra at night, he may get the opportunity to eat more. If children are not getting enough sleep, they may become lethargic and cut down on exercise which leads to overweight.

Suggestions to get enough sleep for your kids:

• Establish a regular bedtime routine for your child. A regular routine makes your child understand at what time they should go to sleep and at what time they wake up.
• The bedroom should be quiet and comfortable without any disturbances from outside.
• The bedroom temperature should be comfortable. It should not be too hot or too cold.
• Your child should be comfortable with clothes they are wearing. The clothes should not be tight which restricts the movement.
• Make your child’s bedroom darker with curtains so the morning light does not wake them.
• Use fan or white noise to restrict the outside sounds.
• Don’t make your child overexcited before bedtime.
• Make your child to tire out with enjoyable physical activities so that they can sleep easily at night.
• The sleep loss may be due to the night waking of the child. They may have night terrors [Night Terrors Treatment] or nightmares [Controlling Nightmares] which disturbs their sleep. You should associate your child if your child goes through any of this event. You have to soothe them and settle them back to sleep.
• Some kids may have separation anxiety disorder which leads to disturbed sleep. Parents should recognize the child’s problem and look the child frequently throughout the night to tell them that they are with them.
• Play soothing music in your child’s bedroom to listen. Music is the great reliever to go back to sleep.