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“When sleep is limited daytime glucose control is impaired and appetite increases.”
-Lea Stening

Sleep Deprivation and Childhood Obesity Link

Sleep deprivation leads to hormonal changes and experts warn that these changes tell the body to eat sugary and starchy foods to provide an energy source. Over prolonged periods this can lead to weight gain. Researchers at Bristol University are warning that there is a clear relationship between short sleep duration and obesity in children.

One reason for sleep deprivation is the lack of physical activity. When children are not physically tired they are less likely to want to sleep, particularly if instead they are distracted by television viewing, mobile telephones or playing computer games.

We now also know that when sleep is limited:

Daytime glucose control is impaired and appetite increases.
Insulin sensitivity is reduced
There is an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes; hypertension; obstructive sleep apnoea and cardiovascular disease.
Immunity is also impaired
There are changes in hormone levels with males experiencing a reduction in testosterone levels. Sleep duration and quality are also affected by changes in sex hormones.

While sleep deprivation has been found to affect body weight, so too has an excessive amount of sleep. Patterns of sleep tend to follow a U shaped curve in that people who sleep too long are also in danger of putting on too much weight, being depressed and failing to exercise sufficiently.

Tips to help your child to sleep:

Encourage your child to get regular day-time exercise
Remove televisions, mobile phones and computers from their bedrooms
Encourage your child to take part in family discussions and talk through any worries they may have.
Limit the intake of fatty foods particularly late at night as these delay digestion contributing to weight gain.
Encourage your child to eat healthy food and if they are showing signs of excessive weight gain do seek professional help.

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