Inadequate sleep is a risk factor for childhood obesity, especially among boys, says a new study.

Inadequate sleep can make you fat

Inadequate sleep is a risk factor for childhood obesity, especially among boys, says a new study.

The research, presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, said that adolescents who don''t get enough sleep may gain weight.

In the study, led by Leslie A. Lytle, PhD, from the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Seattle Children''s Research Institute, investigators collected data on 723 adolescents (mean age 14.7 years) about how long they slept on weeknights and weekends, and how frequently they experienced sleep problems. On three separate occasions, researchers also asked the youths about the foods and beverages they had consumed the prior day to determine how many calories they consumed.

To measure activity, participants wore accelerometers on their belts for seven days. Unlike pedometers, which count the number steps walked, these highly specialized devices measure movement on three different planes. In addition, the wearer cannot see any data on how active they are.

"The use of accelerometers and 24-hour (dietary) recalls was unique in the study of sleep and weight in youth and is a real strength of the study," Dr. Lytle said.

Researchers also measured participants'' weight, body mass index (BMI) and percentage of body fat.

Results showed that shorter sleep duration was related to higher BMI. The relationship was especially strong for boys and for middle school students compared to those in high school. In girls, only less sleep on weekends was related to higher BMI.

"Sleep has long been recognized as an important health behavior," Dr. Lytle said. "We are just beginning to recognize its relationship to overweight and obesity in children and adults alike."

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