Is Less Sleep Making Children Fatter?

Doctor Julie Lemung of the University of Michigan has conducted a research study of children's sleeping patterns and the effect on their weight. Her study showed that approximately 12% of children that sleep more than 10 hours a day will be obese by age 12. More frighteningly, 22% will be obese by the sixth grade if they sleep less than nine hours a day.

I don't seem to have anything to be concerned with when it comes to my own children's sleeping habits, as they are in bed by 9:00 p.m. and are woken at 6:30 a.m. for school. They are getting the recommended 9 1/2 hours of sleep they need to deter obesity. What about your kids?

Here's my thoughts on this...it's great to conduct a study of children's sleeping habits, but how about the parents? If this country is so concerned with its excessive weight gain, why doesn't someone conduct a study to determine the amount of fast food children are eating? Oh, but they have. In 2004, a team of researchers published their findings, and a reported 30.3% of children age 4-19 ate fast food on any given day. So how is a four-year-old acquiring their fast food rations? From Mom and Dad. My own mother used to tell me stories of the special occasions on which my grandfather would bring home a bag of hamburgers and it was like Christmas for the whole family, and it happened about as frequently as Christmas came around.

One of the other major contributing factors to childhood obesity, in my opinion, is gaming systems and the computer. Kids aren't playing outside as much. In my own household, I have to literally pry my son away from the Xbox after two or three hours of his incessant staring at the screen. Sure, he may be learning some problem solving skills and hand-eye coordination, but he's also developing a "laziness" quality.

It's only been twenty years since I was told to "be home before the streetlights come on." Now, if I want my kids to play outside, get exercise and explore the nooks and crannies of the neighborhood, I have to research how many sex offenders live on my block. And even when I'm completely satisfied that their safety won't be compromised, I have to face my own neighbors who criticize me for not watching my kids like a hawk.

I think that obesity in children is solely the responsibility of their parents. If a parent doesn't eat healthy or exercise regularly (I am a culprit of both), there's no reason you can't educate your child(ren) on the effects of good eating habits and exercise. You teach them the ABC's, right? You teach them how to go to the bathroom, blow their nose, tie their shoes, and so on, why not teach them about good health? And make "fast food night" a special occasion.