The Connection Between Sleep Habits and Child Obesity
Connection Between Sleep Habits and Child Obesity in America, sleep disturbance is becoming a bigger problem. The general health of one third of American adults suffers. Because they don’t receive the seven to nine hours of sleep every night that is advise (Watson et al., 2015). According to a consensus statement in the Journal of Sleep Medicine. Many children between the ages of five and 10 are not getting the recommended 10 to 12 hours of sleep every night (Paruthi et al., 2016). It seems that, similar to adults, children who get less sleep are more likely to have a range of health issues.
Obesity in children is one of these sleep-related health issues that is receiving more attention.
In our human biorhythms, sleep is a “scheduled” period of recuperation that permits tissue growth and repair. Numerous physiological processes that affect growth, cognition, and behaviour are regulated by high levels of hormone activity during sleep. All of the things are compromised when sleep is impaired. Lack of sleep can hinder growth because of how quickly children’s bodies and minds are developing.
Significant discoveries from research on how this disruption may be linked to rising obesity rates include
- Shorter nocturnal sleep may raise the risk of overweight and/or obesity in young children (0–4 years old), according to data from the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. Daytime naps did not reduce risk (Bell and Zimmerman, 2010).
- According to a research in Pediatrics, children between the ages of four and ten. Who slept for the fewest hours were four times as likely to be obese. Alterations in insulin, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, and C-reactive protein were also linked to short and irregular sleep duration (Spruyt et al., 2010).
- The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign conducted research on family rituals and the ensuing effects on health. According to their research children who sleep for fewer than seven hours a night are three times more likely to gain weight. Additionally children of parents who slept for fewer than seven hours a night had a 1.3-fold increased risk of being overweight. The researchers came to the conclusion that sleep may be one of the most crucial early elements to target in the fight against juvenile obesity (Jones et al, 2014). nawazpanda.com
These findings go beyond the direct connection between sleep deprivation and childhood obesity. It seems that getting too little sleep as a youngster may increase your risk of being obese as an adult.
- A New Zealand research of more than 1,000 adults found that getting less sleep as a youngster raised the probability of being obese by the age of 32. (Landhuis et al., 2008).
- Short sleep duration during childhood and lifelong obesity were significantly associate. According to a systematic review of more than 36 publications published in the journal Obesity (Patel and Hu, 2017).
How Do Poor Sleep and Childhood Obesity Relate?
Even while some significant results have been found, it is still unclear exactly why and how poor sleep affects childhood obesity, according to researchers. Some people speculate that it might be kind of a “chicken or the egg” situation. Children who are obese have considerably greater rates of sleep disorders like sleep apnea. However, both adults and kids have the same frequently postulated processes by which sleep affects obesity.
Hunger Hormone Disproportion
The hormone leptin dramatically drops when sleep quality is compromise, regardless of age. The brain receives a signal from this hormone telling it to quit eating. This drop is accompanied by a surge in the hormone ghrelin, which heightens one’s appetite and causes a rise in calorie intake (Teheri et al., 2004).
Reduced Energy Consumption
Lack of sleep causes a decrease in core temperature, which makes you feel tired. Children and adults who are tire are less likely to engage in physical activity (Stone et al., 2012).
Levels of Cortisol Increase
It has been note that inadequate sleep might suddenly raise cortisol levels. Insulin resistance and increase body weight have been associat to chronic cortisol elevations in both adults and children (Speigel et al., 2015).
These results demonstrate that sleep is important in the epidemic of childhood obesity. However, there are proactive measures parents may do to assist in enhancing their children’s sleeping habits.
Avoid using gadgets right before bed
Children’s ability to stay asleep for as long has been link to watch television right before bed (Owens et al., 1999). Many doctors and academics advise switching off the television and other screens at least 30 minutes before bedtime.
Establish regular bedtimes
The physiology and psyche of children respond favourably to routine. An ideal sleep/wake cycle is facilitate by going to bed and wake up at the same time each day (Blader et al., 1997). Parents and educators must consider the aim of these time demands as a result of the growing external time demands (school and other activities). While it’s important for kids to learn how to apply rigour to different subjects. It’s equally important to provide them time for physical play and downtime.
Apply common sense
Always keep in mind that youngsters sleep better when they are calm before bed. Any intensely stimulating activities right before bedtime go against this objective. Take into account various techniques and customs. That can be follow in the hours before night to encourage peace and relaxation.
Despite our best attempts, we’ll still wake up around two in the morning to grab glasses of water and check beneath the bed for monsters. But since there is a significant link between kids’ sleep and health. We can take action to make kids’ sleep a time to refuel happy, healthy lives.
List of References
Bell, J.F. and Zimmerman, F.J. (2010). Shortened nighttime sleep duration in early life and subsequent childhood obesity. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 164, 9.
Blader, J.C. (1997). Sleep problems of elementary school children: A community survey. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 151, 5, 473.
Jones, B.L. and Fiese, B.H. (2014). Parent routines, child routines and family demographics associated with obesity in parents and preschool-aged children. Frontiers in Psychology, 5.
Landhuis, C.E. et al. (2008). Childhood sleep time and long-term risk for obesity: A 32-year prospective birth cohort study. Pediatrics, 122, 5, 955–960.
Owens, J. et al. (1999). Television-viewing habits and sleep disturbance in school children. Pediatrics, 104, 3.
Paruthi, S. et al. (2016). Recommended amount of sleep for pediatric populations: A consensus statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 12, 06, 785–786.
Patel, S.R. and Hu, F.B. (2008). Short sleep duration and weight gain: A systematic review. Obesity, 16, 3, 643–653.
Spiegel, K. et al. (2004). Leptin levels are dependent on sleep duration: Relationships with sympathovagal balance, carbohydrate regulation, cortisol and thyrotropin. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 89, 11, 5762–5771.
Spruyt, K., Molfese, D.L. and Gozal, D. (2011). Sleep duration, sleep regularity, body weight, and metabolic homeostasis in school-aged children. Pediatrics, 127, 2.
Stone, M.R., Stevens, D. and Faulkner, G.E. (2013). Maintaining recommended sleep throughout the week is associated with increased physical activity in children. Preventive Medicine, 56, 2, 112–117.
Taheri, S. et al. (2004). Short sleep duration is associated with reduced leptin, elevated ghrelin, and increased body mass index. PLoS Medicine, 1, 3.
Watson, N.F. et al. (2015). Recommended amount of sleep for a healthy adult: A joint consensus statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 11, 06, 591–592.