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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : November 6, 2013 11:56 AM IST
Want your kids to have a normal weight? Make sure they get enough sleep. According to a new study, too little sleep may lead to changes in their appetite and diet.
For the study, 37 kids aged eight to eleven were observed. It was seen that kids who slept before their usual bedtime ate less and weighed less as compared to kids who slept later than usual.
For the first week all kids were made to sleep for nine and a half hours. In the second week, the kids were divided into two groups and while one group was made to sleep an hour and a half more than usual, the second group was made to sleep an hour and half later. In the third week, the kids swapped routines.
It was observed that kids consumed 134 calories lesser per day and weighed about half a pound less when they slept more.
Kids who sleep less have lower levels of a hormone called Leptin. This hormone is used to regulate fat storage in the body.
Children need an average of 10-11 hours of sleep every day, according to National Sleep Foundation. And, this study is a signal to all parents to ensure their child's sleep over other distractions.
The study published in the journal Paediatrics, was led by Chantelle N. Hart at the Center for Obesity Research and Education at Temple University in Philadelphia. 'Some studies of adults have shown changing sleep duration can affect hormones that signal hunger or satiety. When people don't sleep as much, this would result in feeling hungrier and possibly eating more,' she told Reuters Health.
'Additional studies need to be conducted prior to stating with certainty that sleeping more means eating less for kids', she added. (Read: Why childhood obesity is on the rise)
Tips to tackle childhood obesity:
Here are a few pointers Dr Zinal Unadkat recommends:
What's a healthy diet for children?
In order to ensure that your child is eating right, nutritionist Neha Chandna has devised a healthy meal plan for kids. 'A growing child needs all the nutrients in adequate amounts to promote growth and development both mentally and physically. Their diet must have foods from all food groups,' she says. Include the following in their meals:
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