Article Views:
66
Ezine ready page
Ezine ready page
Posted on December 10, 2008 by Melissa Snyte | Posted under Weight Loss
Adult Obesity - Can it Be Linked to Childhood Sleep Pattern?
|
So, is it true true that Sleep deprivation as a child might be a reason for your obesity as you grew old? Lets go on a fact finding mission. According to a research - " It was found that among more than 1,000 people followed from birth to age 32, those who got too little sleep as children were more likely than their well-rested counterparts to become obese adults." according to Dr. Robert John Hancox "All of this supports the idea that early sleep habits have a direct effect on weight in the long term," Although, there are other factors which easily come to mind.... * Addiction to the tube * Too much of fast food and beverage * No culture of exercise and physical activity * Sedentary lifestyle Dr. Hancox said, "Although we cannot prove that this is a cause-and-effect relationship,this study provides strong evidence that it probably is." Hancox and his colleagues at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, report the findings in the journal Pediatrics. The study involved 1,037 men and women who had been followed since their birth, between 1972 and 1973, up to the age of 32. When the participants were 5, 7, 9 and 11 years old, their parents reported on their usual bed time and wake-up time. In general, Hancox and his colleagues found, as childhood sleep time declined, adulthood body mass index, or BMI, climbed. Adults who had been "short sleepers" as children -- averaging fewer than 11 hours in bed each night -- generally had a higher BMI than those who'd gotten more sleep as kids. "Importantly, this is not because children who were short sleepers grew up to be short sleepers as adults," Hancox pointed out. "In other words, inadequate sleep in childhood appears to have long-lasting consequences." So, How much sleep should your Child get for a healthy life? * Children between the ages of 5 and 12: About 11 hours each night * Teenagers should get 8.5 to 9.5 hours. It is a fact that today's kids are getting lesser sleep as compared to earlier generation because of a faster lifestyle as well as a smaller family structure. The last couple of decades have seen a trend towards a more nuclear family composed of - parents & children. Earlier, families would include grand parents, cousins, uncles & aunts - This meant a better nurturing and nourishment of kids - and better chances of day time activity and early sleeping pattern. Now, kids are mostly at home alone and with no supervision - Their only companion is the XBox or Nintendo - leading to couch based routine. Parents usually lose touch with the growing process of their kids - leading to a highly individualized kid unaware of the consequences. Finally, the scientific question of - Why lack of sleep is related to obesity? The medical theory that seems closest to a logical explanation is - * Sleep deprivation alters the normal balance of appetite-stimulating and appetite-suppressing hormones * Sleepy children may also be too tired for physical activity during the day So, it makes sense to follow the old adage - ' Early to bed & early to Rise - Makes you Healthy, Wealthy & Wise." About The Author: Author is a healthcare, aromatherapy, natural herbs & culinary Enthusiast. She writes syndicated blogs for top Diet pills like Phenocal and also provides regular reviews for the best Diet Pill review sites. |
Tags: WEIGHT LOSS, OBESITY, DIET PILLS
