Parents know that when kids don't get a good night's sleep, it means more crankiness during the day. Now a new study finds that when a kid doesn't get enough sleep, it can also lead to poor dietary habits and increased risk of obesity. Analyzing data from more than 177,000 children, researchers found that deficient sleep times were more likely to lead to lessened amounts of physical and aerobic activity. "Approximately 40 percent of schoolchildren in the study slept less than recommended," says senior study author Labros Sidossis. "Insufficient sleeping levels were associated with poor dietary habits, increased screen time and obesity in both genders." The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that 6-to-12-year-olds sleep between nine and 12 hours a night, while 13-to-18-year-olds should get between eight to 10 hours of sleep.
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