New research shows that children who don’t get enough nightly sleep are more likely to be overweight and have behavioral problems.
The study examined almost 600 children. Their sleep duration was assessed by actigraphy, a non-invasive method used to study sleep-wake patterns by assessing movement. The study examined sleep patterns at birth, at one year, at three-and-a-half years and at seven years.
Children who slept less than nine hours on average were more likely to be overweight or obese. Short sleep duration was also associated with higher emotional liability scores.