14 DAY TRIAL // According to a recent investigation carried out by MassGeneral Hospital for Children specialists, kids who for some reason do not get enough sleep during their early years are more likely to become obese.
Specifically, evidence indicates that reduced sleep during both infancy and early childhood translates into an increase in overall body fat, including potentially dangerous abdominal fat.
Interestingly enough, it appears that kids are vulnerable to the effects of sleep deprivation all throughout their early years. Thus, there is no so-called critical period that parents might want to keep a close eye on.
“Our study found convincing evidence that getting less than recommended amounts of sleep across early childhood is an independent and strong risk factor for obesity and adiposity,” explains specialist Elsie Taveras.
Furthermore, “Contrary to some published studies, we did not find a particular ‘critical period’ for the influence of sleep duration on weight gain. Instead, insufficient sleep at any time in early childhood had adverse effects.”
The link between sleep deprivation and childhood obesity was established by analyzing data concerning the sleeping patterns and overall health condition of children monitored as part of a larger investigation into how various factors influence pregnancy and life after birth.
The kids who were included in this research project all received individual sleep scores depending on how much they slept on a daily basis during their first years of life, and were weighed on a regular basis until they were 7 years old.
It was thus determined that those whose sleep scores were the lowest were also the ones whose body measurements indicated obesity and adiposity, i.e. an increase in overall levels of body fat.
“While we need more trials to determine if improving sleep leads to reduced obesity, right now we can recommend that clinicians teach young patients and their parents ways to get a better night's sleep,” researcher Elsie Taveras says.
For the time being, specialists cannot say why it is that sleep deprivation appears to trigger childhood obesity. However, they suspect that this link might be due to the fact that not getting enough sleep affects the body's hormonal balance and causes hunger.
On the other hand, it is also possible that children who go to bed late at night have more time to eat and may even lead a sedentary lifestyle that includes staying up late, watching TV and constantly snacking.
Just for the record, it need be said that, for the purpose of this study, curtailed sleep was defined as less than 12 hours per day from ages 6 months to 2 years, less than 10 hours per day for ages 3 and 4, and less than 9 hours per day from age 5 to 7.