`Night owls` more prone to weight gain

Although BMI (body mass index) does not distinguish between lean muscle and fat, and the researchers from the University of California and Colombia University did not measure waist circumference, the study will raise further concerns about the reported relationship between lack of sleep and obesity. The 10-week family-centered program held by the Denver area Children’s Hospital teaches youth and their parents ways to lead a healthier more active lifestyle, as a longer lasting weight-loss alternative to dieting. Staying up late on weeknights may increase a teen’s risk of becoming overweight over time, a new study says.

Teens need a little more than nine hours of sleep a night, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. More specifically, sleep can help those who are suffering from weight gain; it’s crucial, especially, to make sure teens get the required amount of sleep so that they can reduce the likelihood that they will suffer issues with weight in the future.

The study analysed data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, which has tracked the influences and behaviours of USA teenagers since 1994.

Specifically, the specialists looked at the bedtimes and the BMI of 3,300 teenagers and young adults who were monitored between the years 1994 to 2009.

The researchers were surprised to find these results remained even after accounting for participants’ total sleep duration, screen time and physical activity levels.

“These results highlight adolescent bedtimes, not just total sleep time, as a potential target for weight management during the transition to adulthood”, study lead author Lauren Asarnow commented on the team’s findings in an interview. The teenagers reported their bedtimes and sleep hours of the adolescents while calculating their BMI through their height and weight.