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Written By: Agencies | Published : May 20, 2014 5:32 PM IST
Take note of how many hours of sleep your baby is getting as researchers have found that sleep deprivation during infancy and early childhood increases risk of obesity and adiposity or overall body fat later.
The study found no evidence of a specific period during which insufficient sleep has greater influence on later obesity.
'Getting less than recommended amounts of sleep across early childhood is an independent and strong risk factor for obesity and adiposity,' said Elsie Taveras, chief of general pediatrics at MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC) in the US.
Contrary to some published studies, we did not find a particular 'critical period' for the influence of sleep duration on weight gain, Taveras added.
Instead, insufficient sleep at any time in early childhood had adverse effects.
Overall, children with the lowest sleep scores had the highest levels of all body measurements reflecting obesity and adiposity, including abdominal fat which is considered to be particularly hazardous, the study noted.
The association was consistent at all ages, indicting there was no critical period for the interaction between sleep and weight.
The study appeared in the journal Pediatrics.
What is Childhood Obesity?
Childhood obesity is a serious problem that is on the rise these days and there are enough reasons which contribute to the growing numbers. The prime one is sedentary lifestyles. Children don't play outdoor games these days. There aren't many facilities for playing games like basketball, football, cricket, etc. Moreover, they have options aplenty at home like watching TV, playing video games, mobile and computer games.
With inputs from IANS
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