Baby Sleep Time and Obesity

Is There A Link Between Sleep, Too Much TV, and Being Overweight?

Apr 27, 2008

A Harvard study finds that babies who sleep under 12 hours a day are more likely to become overweight in preschool.

Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, April 2008, issued findings that state two behaviors, if combined, are linked to obesity. Those two factors? Lack of sleep and watching television.

Sleep Is Critical

Babies and toddlers sleep more than school age children and adults. It is crucial to their development. Researchers screened 915 children. 586 slept 12 or more hours per day. 329 slept less than 12 hours per day. Among the long sleepers, how many were obese at age 3? 7%. What about the short sleepers? 12% were obese by the age of 3. What about the television factor? 17% of children that slept less than 12 hours per day and watched two or more hours of television were obese by the age of 3.

Obesity

Just what is obesity in children? The study criteria stated that obesity was in the 95th percentile or above for BMI. Body Mass Index is a formula of height vs. weight. Children that slept under 12 hours per day and watched more than two hours of television had a doubled risk for obesity.

Why Television Is Bad

Television is a sedentary activity. If children are watching television, they are not running, jumping rope, riding bikes, and shooting hoops. And, television often increases the desire to munch on goodies.

Sleep and Hunger Hormones

Then, there is the sleep factor. Adults that do not receive enough sleep produce more ghrelin, which is a hormone that promotes hunger. Adults that sleep more produce the hormone leptin, which signals fullness. Another study from 2007 found that for every additional hour a third grader sleeps reduces chances for obesity in 6th grade by 40%.

Activity Is Good

The study also concludes that children should be active during non-sleeping hours. The more active children are during the day—the better they sleep at night. So, parents that have children in daycare should make it clear that their children are to be up and moving and not doing quiet activities or watching television when not napping.

Sleeping Tip

Dr. Elsie Taveras, the study’s lead author, suggests that parents teach infants to fall asleep on their own. Rocking a child until asleep may be enjoyable but it is not a good practice. Put the child to bed when they are drowsy but not yet asleep. That practice will teach the child to go to sleep when they are drowsy and not hold out for falling asleep in the arms of a parent.

Sleep is a critical component to health. Bragging how little sleep is needed is not a healthy practice.

The copyright of the article Baby Sleep Time and Obesity in Student Health Issues is owned by Barbara Pytel. Permission to republish Baby Sleep Time and Obesity in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Apr 29, 2008 11:49 AM

Guest :

I've often wondered if we don't feed cranky babies more often that won't sleep. That could be a factor.