Poor Sleep Habits and Obesity - Essay Example

Psychology Name Institution Date Poor Sleep Habits and Obesity Introduction Obesity is presenting itself as a major epidemic that is experienced by children and adolescents lately. The severe clinical, psychosocial and economic effects of overweight and obesity among children and adolescence shows the degree and importance of this health crisis in the modern society. Obesity in pediatric, just like other chronic illness, is a complicated, multifactorial phenotype influenced by genetic and the environment. Successful prevention of obesity in children and adolescence lies in the identification of changeable risk factor for developing obesity. Despite the fact that obesity is strongly linked to genetic factors, environmental factors seem to play a significant role in current obesity. However, interventions aimed at modifying food choices, such as calorie consumption and physical exercises have failed to bring about permanent weight decrease as well as maintenance. These strategies are restricted by the truth that just a little every day energy surplus might lead to obesity with time. Hence, other risk factors, for example sleep can be associated with obesity. However, researchers have not paid much attention at sleep habits as they have with dietary consumption and physical exercise (Gutpa et al., 2002). Sleep plays a significant part in the development, maturation as well as wellbeing of children and adolescent. Adequate sleep is crucial for human health. Most studies have suggested that adolescents should sleep for at least 6-8 hours every day (Spiegel et al. 2004). Youths who sleep for more than 9 hours per night have a reduced risk of obesity compared to those who sleep for less than 9 hours every day (Sugimori et al, 2004). Quantity of sleep is a significant indicator of the health and welfare of young people. Sleep permit for the diurnal regularity of hormones associated with development, maturation as well as energy homeostasis. Several biological theories have been projected to associate sleep length with obesity. For instance, one theory puts forward that young people with sleep deprivation have less calorie consumption and physical activity (Spiegel et al. 2004). Short sleep leads to low energy, daylight drowsiness, somatic and cognitive problems and lack of exercise. Earlier research studies show that short sleep lead to alterations in levels of hormones such as leptin, ghrelin, insulin, cortisol and development hormones. Leptin level are highly susceptible to sleep duration. Obesity can result from such changes in hormones (Sugimori et al, 2004; Durmer and Dinges, 2005). Currently, a number of studies are been conducted as relates to sleep habits and obesity in children and adolescence. Though, the age varies in the available research are generally small, with only some research reporting an age variation of less than 5 years (Gutpa et al., 2002). Current systematic review has demonstrated that kids above 10 years old show an inverse connection between sleep period and overweight (Sekine et al., 2002). The link between sleep and overweight is powerful in children less than 12 years. Researchers have commonly agreed on the existence of a powerful connection between sleep deprivation and overweight in young people thought present literatures displays some mixed findings (Sekine et al., 2002; Spiegel et al. 2004). Currently, several epidemiological evidences have proposed a connection between sleep length and overweight in young people. Poor sleep lifestyle has been linked to a decreased sense of health and reduced quality of life in children and adolescents. . On the other hand, long sleep duration is associated with better health results. A study conducted showed that children with short sleep had 58%high risks of developing obesity while children with the shortest sleep had 92% higher risks for obesity as compared with children with long sleep duration (Von Kries et al., ).There is a significant linear dose-response association between short sleep and obesity in young people. Researches have demonstrated that sleep deprivation at infancy forecasts obesity at age of adolescence (Sekine et al., 2002). The risk of overweight is raised by 9% with each hour of sleep decrease. Though few studies have focused on sleep habits, recent studies show that sleep duration has reduced over time. Intriguingly, obesity in children and adolescent seems to increase with decrease with sleep duration. Research studies have proposed that these groups could be suffering from sleep deprivation (Agras et al., 2004). Puberty is a significant growth period where adolescents experience lack of sleep. This is because there are alterations in the natural timing of sleep like young people sleeping late and this decreases the quantity of sleep they obtain as of the necessities of leaving to school very early in the morning. Overall sleep requirement for adolescents appears to be higher, hence making the issue of sleep deprivation more complex. Adolescents have reported higher cases of sleep problems and have substantial morbidity. More television watching, computer games and utilization of internet and cell phones have contributed greatly to this problem of short sleep in young people. All of these things are increasingly accessible to this age category and are progressively more found in their sleeping rooms. Obesity has been linked to television viewing. Most television watching by kids is done at or close to time for sleeping and therefore, it unfavorably affects sleep (Reilly et al., 2005). There is a connection between sleep deprivation and overweight according to cross-sectional studies that have been carried out (Gutpa et al., 2002; Von Kries et al., 2002; Sekine et al., 2002). Longitudinal studies have also established that short sleep duration forecasts later occurrence of obesity (Agras et al., 2004; Reilly et al., 2005; Sugimori et al, 2004). Short sleep duration hinders concentration, impulse control and better problem solving and hence poor dietary intake (Durmer and Dinges, 2005). Short sleep duration might lead to dietary appetites and hormonal and metabolic changes that encourage weight increase (Spiegel et al. 2004). Moreover, short time sleep presents one with more time awake providing a greater opening for food consumption. Experimental studies have found out that short sleep duration elevates hunger and appetite scores levels, especially for high calorie and high carbohydrates foods, such as crisps, hamburger, and pizza and pasta snack. Intriguingly, researches have shown a connection between bedtime restriction and increased intake of snacks. Repeated bedtime curtailment can change food consumption and sleep deprivation in an overweight-encouraging atmosphere may promote the disproportionate intake of energy from snacks rather than meals (Spiegel et al. 2004). Researchers have also demonstrated that short sleep duration changes carbohydrates metabolism and results in damaged glucose tolerance. Studies have demonstrated that short sleep duration makes people prone to heat loss. This alteration in body temperature control can signify the effect of short sleep duration on changed energy expenditure (Spiegel et al. 2004). It is more suitable to treat physical activity as an effect modifier rather than as a perplexing factor when evaluating the link between sleep deprivation and overweight as most studies have tended to do. No researchers that have particularly researched on the association between sleep and exercises in connection to overweight. Physical inactivity and short sleep put children at higher risk of developing obesity (Agras et al., 2004). Severe lack of sleep clearly results in feelings of fatigue. Fatigue may result in decrease in physical activity. According to one research, 40% of adolescents suffering from short sleep duration experienced tiredness (Gutpa et al., 2002). Indeed, cross-sectional studies have demonstrated that sleep deprivation leads to decreased involvement in organized sports among children and adolescents (Agras et al., 2004). Some research researches have demonstrated that there is a gender difference in the link between sleep deprivation and overweight. However, these studies are contradictory as some of them shows that girls are more susceptible to short sleep durations than boys while some of them demonstrate the opposite. At the same time, a number of researches have demonstrated no gender difference in the link between sleep deprivation and overweight. It has been proposed that girls can be more resistant to environmental stressors and hence require better short sleep duration so as to be influenced as compared to boys (Knutson, 2005). Conclusion and recommendations From the above discussion its apparent that poor sleep habits are strongly associated with overweight in children and adolescence. Short sleep duration leads to alterations in levels of various hormones including leptin, ghrelin, insulin, cortisol and development hormones. These hormonal alterations can results in energy imbalance and subsequently contribute to overweight and obesity. Hence, multifaceted intervention approaches must be developed and executed to help prevent the increasingly occurrence of obesity. Health-care professionals must deem sleep habits as an important factor in obesity-associated problems. Since lifestyle habits created in infancy and adolescence considerably influences obesity, stress must be given to primary prevention instead of secondary and tertiary prevention. We should promote good sleep habits among children and adolescents. These may include getting rid of device entertainments from sleeping rooms and limiting their use, adherence to firm bedtimes, ensuring a calm, dim and peaceful bedroom setting that is not too warm or too chilly, ensuring a relaxed bed among other sleep hygiene measures. Further research should be conducted as regards the mechanisms fundamental to the important connection between sleep deprivation and obesity. Current studies should focus on helping children and adolescence develop health habits like getting enough sleep every night. Primary health-care providers should help in evaluating short sleep duration in adolescents and educating then as regard the significance of enough sleep and the effects of short sleep. References Agras WS, Hammer LD, McNicholas F, Kraemer HC. 2004. Risk factors for childhood overweight: a prospective study from birth to 9.5 years. J Pediatr, 145 (1):20– 25 Durmer J. S. and Dinges D. F. 2005. Neurocognitive consequences of sleep deprivation. Seminars in Neurology; 25:117-129. Gupta NK, Mueller WH, Chan W, Meininger JC. 2002. Is obesity associated with poor sleep quality in adolescents? Am J Hum Biology; 14 (6):762– 768 Knutson KL, 2005. Sex differences in the association between sleep and body mass index in adolescents. J Pediatr, 147:830-834 Reilly JJ, Armstrong J, Dorosty AR, et al. 2005. Early life risk factors for obesity in childhood: cohort study. BMJ; 330 (7504):1357 Sekine M, Yamagami T, Handa K, et al. 2002. A dose-response relationship between short sleeping hours and childhood obesity: results of the Toyama Birth Cohort Study. Child Care Health Dev.; 28 (2):163– 170 Spiegel K, Leproult R, L'Hermite-Baleriaux M, Copinschi G, Penev PD, Van Cauter E. 2004. Leptin levels are dependent on sleep duration: relationships with sympathovagal balance, carbohydrate regulation, cortisol, and thyrotropin. J Clin Endocrinol Metab.; 89 (11):5762– 5771 Sugimori H, Yoshida K, Izuno T, et al. 2004. Analysis of factors that influence body mass index from ages 3 to 6 years: a study based on the Toyama cohort study. Pediatr Int.; 46 (3):302– 310 Von Kries R, Toschke AM, Wurmser H, Sauerwald T, Koletzko B. 2002. Reduced risk for overweight and obesity in 5- and 6-y-old children by duration of sleep: a cross-sectional study. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord; 26 (5):710– 716 Read More

Earlier research studies show that short sleep lead to alterations in levels of hormones such as leptin, ghrelin, insulin, cortisol and development hormones. Leptin level are highly susceptible to sleep duration. Obesity can result from such changes in hormones (Sugimori et al, 2004; Durmer and Dinges, 2005). Currently, a number of studies are been conducted as relates to sleep habits and obesity in children and adolescence. Though, the age varies in the available research are generally small, with only some research reporting an age variation of less than 5 years (Gutpa et al., 2002). Current systematic review has demonstrated that kids above 10 years old show an inverse connection between sleep period and overweight (Sekine et al., 2002). The link between sleep and overweight is powerful in children less than 12 years.

Researchers have commonly agreed on the existence of a powerful connection between sleep deprivation and overweight in young people thought present literatures displays some mixed findings (Sekine et al., 2002; Spiegel et al. 2004). Currently, several epidemiological evidences have proposed a connection between sleep length and overweight in young people. Poor sleep lifestyle has been linked to a decreased sense of health and reduced quality of life in children and adolescents. . On the other hand, long sleep duration is associated with better health results.

A study conducted showed that children with short sleep had 58%high risks of developing obesity while children with the shortest sleep had 92% higher risks for obesity as compared with children with long sleep duration (Von Kries et al., ).There is a significant linear dose-response association between short sleep and obesity in young people. Researches have demonstrated that sleep deprivation at infancy forecasts obesity at age of adolescence (Sekine et al., 2002). The risk of overweight is raised by 9% with each hour of sleep decrease.

Though few studies have focused on sleep habits, recent studies show that sleep duration has reduced over time. Intriguingly, obesity in children and adolescent seems to increase with decrease with sleep duration. Research studies have proposed that these groups could be suffering from sleep deprivation (Agras et al., 2004). Puberty is a significant growth period where adolescents experience lack of sleep. This is because there are alterations in the natural timing of sleep like young people sleeping late and this decreases the quantity of sleep they obtain as of the necessities of leaving to school very early in the morning.

Overall sleep requirement for adolescents appears to be higher, hence making the issue of sleep deprivation more complex. Adolescents have reported higher cases of sleep problems and have substantial morbidity. More television watching, computer games and utilization of internet and cell phones have contributed greatly to this problem of short sleep in young people. All of these things are increasingly accessible to this age category and are progressively more found in their sleeping rooms.

Obesity has been linked to television viewing. Most television watching by kids is done at or close to time for sleeping and therefore, it unfavorably affects sleep (Reilly et al., 2005). There is a connection between sleep deprivation and overweight according to cross-sectional studies that have been carried out (Gutpa et al., 2002; Von Kries et al., 2002; Sekine et al., 2002). Longitudinal studies have also established that short sleep duration forecasts later occurrence of obesity (Agras et al.

, 2004; Reilly et al., 2005; Sugimori et al, 2004). Short sleep duration hinders concentration, impulse control and better problem solving and hence poor dietary intake (Durmer and Dinges, 2005). Short sleep duration might lead to dietary appetites and hormonal and metabolic changes that encourage weight increase (Spiegel et al. 2004). Moreover, short time sleep presents one with more time awake providing a greater opening for food consumption.

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