A research conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital for Children and analyzed the effects of sleep on children age ranges from six months to seven years. Data collected on annual basis and it includes measurement of physical health, weight, sleeping patterns and nap times. At the age of seven researchers measured their abdominal fat, lean body mass, height, weight, waist and hip circumferences.
As per this research, researcher concluded that:
Age Sleep Hours (Per day) Result\
6 months to 2 years less than 12 hours Inadequate
3 years to 4 years 10 Hours Necessary
5 years to 7 years less than 9 hours Insufficient
For children ages six months to two years, less than 12 hours per day was considered inadequate.
For children between ages three and four, 10 hours of sleep per day was necessary.
For children between five and seven years of age, less than nine hours was insufficient.
Sleep scores from zero, the highest level of insufficient sleep, to 13 were given to Children, which indicated no reports of poor sleep. Children who had the lowest sleep scores had higher levels of abdominal fat and other measures indicative of obesity, regardless of age.
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Very Very
InSufficient Good
Sleep Sleep
According to Dr. Elsie Taveras, the lead author and chief of general pediatrics at the hospital, “Our study found convincing evidence that getting less than recommended amounts of sleep across early childhood is an independent and strong risk factor for obesity and adiposity. Contrary to some published studies, we did not find a particular ‘critical period’ for the influence of sleep duration on weight gain. Instead, insufficient sleep at any time in early childhood had adverse effects.”
baby
But researches stated that still we need more trials and research to endorse if improving sleep times leads to reduced obesity. They also delight parent with experts’ advice in order to improve sleep time and habits that includes;
Setting a consistent bedtime.
Limiting caffeinated beverages late in the day.
Cutting out high-tech distractions in the bedrooms.
Above all habits will improve the sleep times and promotes healthy sleep habits
