London - Putting children to bed earlier may be a simple way to keep their weight down.
Research suggests that lack of sleep, like lack of exercise, could be a cause of childhood obesity.
US scientists adjusted the sleep patterns of 37 children, more than a quarter of whom were overweight or obese.
For the first week of the study, children were asked to sleep their typical amount.
During the second week the children randomly had their sleep time either reduced or lengthened.
For the third week, they were given the opposite sleep schedule.
When children increased their sleep, they reported consuming 134 fewer calories per day, on average, and lost weight.
Tests showed they had lower levels of leptin, a hormone that affects hunger and is linked to obesity.
“Findings from this study suggest that enhancing school-age children’s sleep at night could have important implications for prevention and treatment of obesity,” Dr Chantelle Hart, of Temple University in Philadelphia, told the journal Pediatrics.
She is working on a follow-up study to determine whether more sleep produces significant changes in eating patterns, activity and weight.
“Given all of its documented benefits, in many ways, you can’t lose in promoting a good night’s sleep,” she said.- Daily Mail