Information Related to "Sleep... A Key to Weight Control"
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Obesity is a growing concern in the United States and around the world. It affects many people, but most frightening is the incredible increase in childhood obesity.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, studies
show that 80 percent of children who were obese from ages 10 to 15 remained
so at age 25. In addition, the obesity rate for 12-to 19-year-olds has
more than tripled in the past 30 years to 17.6 percent (cdc.gov). Similar
statistics are found in other countries. In Scotland, for instance, 20
percent of primary school children are overweight (scotland.gov.uk).
Staying fit and trim requires a combination of positive habits, including moderate daily exercise, eating a variety of nutritious, whole foods and steering clear of drugs, cigarettes and other substances that are habit-forming and detrimental to one's health.
It goes without saying that learning good health habits at an early age provides the basis for lifelong well-being, while wrong habits can be difficult to break as time goes by. But would you believe that one of the crucial components to staying fit and trim appears to be one that takes the least effort—sleep?
Many young people cut themselves short of sleep. Granted, it's hard to be a young person and get to bed early every night. Our friends, our entertainment and our school all need our attention. Sleep can seem like an unimportant, unproductive waste of time. Why sleep when we can be awake, doing something?
It turns out, sleep isn't so unproductive after all. Our bodies repair themselves and rejuvenate cells and body systems all night in a series of sleep cycles. In fact, according to a 1999 study reported in The Lancet, sleep debt impairs carbohydrate metabolism and endocrine function, potentially leading to diabetes (Vol. 354, Issue 9188, Oct. 23, 1999, pp. 1435-1439).
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