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New Findings on Sleep and Childhood Obesity

It seems like every day there is more information in the news focusing on the relationship between sleep and our health, and the information about how lack of sleep effects children has been of particular concern. Establishing good sleep patterns at an early age can not only set your child up for healthy habits in the future, it can also protect them from some truly serious medical conditions, and help them socially and educationally as well.  A recent study out of the University of Illinois has gone one step beyond encouraging parents to make sure that their children get to bed on time. It suggests that dramatic improvements can also be made by improving the amount of sleep that the parents get themselves.

According to Barbara H. Fiese, director of the University of Illinois Family Resiliency Center and Pampered Chef Endowed Chairman, her recent study showed a clear correlation between the amount of sleep that parents get, the amount of sleep that their children get, and childhood obesity.

The study, titled “Parent routines, child routines and family demographics associated with obesity in parents and preschool-aged children,” appeared in a recent issue of Frontiers in Psychology, and was coauthored by Blake L. Jones of Purdue University and the STRONG Kids Team of the University of Illinois. It found that sleep deprivation’s effects on a family are more than simply fatigue – the less sleep a family has, the higher the chances of all family members gaining weight.

Link between sleep and childhood obesity studied. Link between sleep and childhood obesity studied.

The study looked at a number of different socioeconomic factors relative to a household’s daily routines and the incidence of preschool children and their parents being obese or overweight. Among the variables that were scrutinized were whether parents were getting enough sleep and establishing family mealtimes and whether children were getting enough sleep, having meals with their families, having their television and computer time limited, and whether there was a television in their bedroom.

Out of all of these factors, the one that significantly impacted whether children were overweight was whether they were getting enough sleep. Those who had a lack of restorative sleep were at much greater risk for being overweight regardless of what their parents’ body mass index or socioeconomic standing was. This was in keeping with previous studies about the impact of sleep on a child’s weight. What was surprising however was the fact that the amount of sleep that the parents were getting was related to the amount of sleep that the children were getting, and thus having a direct impact on the child’s weight as well.  “We viewed how long parents slept and how long children slept as part of a household routine and found that they really did go together,” Fiese said.

In analyzing why this would be the case, Fiese looked back at some of her previous studies, including one that followed a number of families for over a year. She had found that when parents work late, they often keep their children up late in order to spend time with them, and as a result some small children in the group were not going to bed before 11:00 p.m.  “They described cuddling on the couch, watching television and the child falling asleep in his parent’s arms at 10 or 11 p.m. and being carried to bed. You can understand how it happens, but that’s too late for a child who has to get up and go to school the next day,” Fiese said. Further, the problem is not limited to preschoolers. The relationship between lack of sleep and obesity holds true for those in elementary school and high school as well, and adults are also impacted.  Though it is not yet clearly understood why restorative sleep plays such an important role in weight management, it has been theorized that it helps regulate the body’s metabolism.  Fiese’s study indicates that getting adequate sleep is actually a protective factor against obesity in both parents and their children.

Fiese has several suggestions for how to ensure that children are getting the benefit of adequate sleep. She indicates that parents should pay careful attention to how much television exposure a child is getting, and limit the use of all types of electronic devices to no more than two hours per day. All devices should be shut down at least half an hour before it’s time to go to bed, and televisions should not be located in children’s rooms under any circumstances. Parents can further create a predictable routine designed to establish a sense of calm and relaxation before bedtime by setting a standard bath time and carving out a time for reading together or talking and cuddling before it’s time to turn the lights out. What is most important is taking the time to create a schedule that provides children with ten hours of sleep each night.

Fiese also points out that the parents can benefit from this type of attention and thoughtfulness regarding their own schedule. “We’re learning more and more about how important it is to unplug for a half-hour or so before we go to bed. At a certain time, turn off your electronic devices – even e-books – and engage in whatever soothing ritual helps you to relax enough to sleep.” There is substantial evidence that getting the right amount of sleep each night can help adults in how they function throughout the day, as well as in being a smart part of an overall health plan. With the results of this study showing that parents’ sleep plays a significant role in the wellbeing of their children, there is an even greater incentive to making getting the rest you need a greater priority.

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