Later Bedtimes Linked to Larger BMI

Weight management is a growing concern for many Americans, but sometimes, even with regular exercise and dieting, weight loss can seem near impossible. According to a recent study, weight gain in adulthood can be linked to bad sleeping habits during adolescent years.

New data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health points fingers to bad sleeping habits developed during the adolescent years. The study suggests that there is a correlation between later average bedtimes and an increase in body mass index (BMI) of 2.1 kg/m2.

In fact, the research study notes that BMI did not seem to be significantly impacted by total amount of sleep, exercise or even screen time. This means that even regularly active adolescents should develop consistent, earlier bedtimes in order to prevent obesity and weight gain in their later adult years.

Is your child or teen having difficulty falling asleep at night? At FusionSleep, our team of certified sleep specialists are experts when it comes to finding sleep solutions to accommodate your child’s needs. To learn more about how we can help you child gain better sleep, please give our office a call at (678) 990-3962 today.