Kids sleeping less, gaining weight

SYDNEY, May 15, 2006 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Children sleeping fewer than six hours at night could be at greater risk of becoming obese, an Australian study has found.

Dr. Sarah Blunden, from the University of South Australia's Center for Sleep Research, and honors student Paige Johnson studied the sleep patterns of hundreds of children to determine whether their sleeping habits contributed to rising levels of childhood obesity, The Australian reported Monday.

Blunden said a lack of sleep affected the pre-frontal cortex -- the frontal lobe of the brain -- which is responsible for memory, behavior, moods and the delivery of appetite-suppressing and appetite-stimulating hormones.

"Hormone secretion is disrupted when you don't sleep properly," she said. "Less sleep equals hormone non-regulation and that means you're more likely to eat more."

Blunden said the change in appetite and lack of sleep combined with other factors -- such as children watching television or playing video games late at night -- could lead to a connection between sleep and obesity.

URL: www.upi.com

Copyright 2006 by United Press International

Back to News