What 40 minutes less sleep does to children
23.5.2023
Translation: machine translated
Tiredness has an effect on children's eating behaviour. Even a reduced bedtime of less than an hour increases the craving for unhealthy foods. This is the conclusion of research findings from New Zealand.
40 minutes. That doesn't sound like much. And yet just three quarters of an hour less sleep can apparently make a decisive difference to children's eating behaviour. That's according to a new study by the University of Otago in New Zealand.
Researchers Rosie Jackson and Silke Morrison have found that even 40 minutes less sleep per night leads to a "significant increase in energy intake and a deterioration in diet quality", according to the university's media release. In other words, the children eat more and prefer unhealthy food.
A lot of time and effort is spent on improving eating behaviour with dietary changes. According to her study, it would probably be more effective "to take a closer look at sleeping habits", says Rosie Jackson.
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This is how the study was conducted
The study involved 105 children aged between eight and twelve from the New Zealand city of Dunedin. Firstly, their bedtime was brought forward by one hour for a week and then, after a week in between, they went to bed an hour later for a week. Bedtimes, food intake and the desire for certain foods were documented.
The children ate "considerably more energy" when they were deprived of sleep, usually after 5 pm. They got this energy from foods such as cakes, biscuits and crisps. If, on the other hand, they were offered "less desirable, healthier foods", they wanted to eat less.
What three biscuits a day can do
The extra calorie intake equates to about three biscuits a day. "Although this may not seem like much for an individual, it would be enough to gain several kilos a year - enough to explain the link between too little sleep and higher body weight," says researcher Rosie Jackson.
In general, experts assume that eating behaviour develops early in life and remains stable during childhood. "However, our study suggests that sleep could be a factor that influences children's eating behaviour," says Rosie Jackson. Of course, it could simply be that the children had more time to eat. "But our data also show that eating and emotions are linked."
A good night's sleep is therefore important for so many things - including what and how we eat.
Cover photo: Unsplash/Richard Stachmann
Katja Fischer
Senior Editor
Katja.Fischer@digitecgalaxus.chMom of Anna and Elsa, aperitif expert, group fitness fanatic, aspiring dancer and gossip lover. Often a multitasker and a person who wants it all, sometimes a chocolate chef and queen of the couch.
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