sleeping-kid_64Right eating habit and healthy lifestyle have always been construed as the portent weapon in checking kids’ weight gain. However, a few people know that sound sleep can also be a prolific weapon in the arsenal to check the intrusion of obesity.

During the course of this study researchers collected data in two phases by tracking about 2,281 children. These kids of ages 3 to 12 at the start of the study were followed-up for information till five years.

Finally, researchers concluded that children who slept less, went to bed later, or got up earlier during the first assessment had higher BMIs five years later and were more likely to be overweight while kids who got sufficient sleep were found with lower BMIs. Harping on the same issue Snell said:

The effect of sleep on the weight of younger kids came through their bedtime. An earlier bedtime seemed to matter more, and bedtime is a place where parents have control.

Throwing light on the important of this study Dr. Shahrad Taheri, a lecturer in medicine and endocrinology at the University of Bristol, in Great Britain observes:

We increasingly understand that sleep has multiple functions... Short sleep has been associated with poor educational performance, alcohol use and addiction, poor immune responses, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

This is not for the first time when sleep has been associated with check on weight gain. Moreover, there is a vast stock of such studies that have opened out several health benefits of sound and sufficient sleep. Here is the briefing:

1. Sleep, Sleep, Sleep and Get Rid of That Extra Flab!

2. Poor Sleep May Be Linked with Depression!

3. Sleep Deprivation Stops Growth of New Memory Cells

4. Sleep: More Important Than You Think

Image credit: The Moderate Voice

Via: Hon.ch