Lack of Sleep, a Cause for Child Obesity

Researchers at the Bristol University suggested that cutting sleeping hours is linked to an important problem of the Western world, obesity among children and adolescents.

Experts suggested that lack of sleep is to blame for the increasing obesity rate among youngsters.

"There is a really clear relationship between short sleep duration and obesity in children," stated Dr Shahrad Taheri, the lead researcher at the Bristol University.

Dr Shahrad Taheri and colleagues explained that cutting sleeping hours seriously affects the level of hormones responsible for appetite. Moreover, if you stay awake more, you need to eat larger quantities of food.

Experts indicated that computers, television and mobile phones affect the sleep, especially if watching television, playing computer games or talking on the mobile is done before sleeping. It is known that most children do these things mostly before going to bed.

"Good sleep could be promoted by removing televisions and other electronic items from children's bedrooms and ensuring a strict, regular bedtime routine," suggested Dr Shahrad Taher.

Researchers are hoping that that current finding will determine those seeking weight lost to provide at least eight hours of night sleep to their diet and physical exercises routines.

"An obesity prevention approach in children and adolescents that promotes a healthy diet, physical activity and adequate sleep could be adopted," said Dr Shahrad Taher.

"Ensuring adequate sleep in children and adolescents may not only help fighting against obesity, but could have other added health and educational benefits - for example improvements in academic performance," concluded Dr Shahrad Taher.