A Good Night's Sleep Staves Off Weight Gain in Children

Nearly 800 mothers were asked about their children’s sleep habits in third and sixth grade. Longer sleep time in third grade was linked with a lower risk of becoming overweight in sixth grade. For every additional hour of sleep in sixth grade, the risk of becoming overweight that same year was reduced by 20 percent. Experts say school-aged kids should get at least 9 hours of sleep a night.