Children and teens who get less sleep, especially those who spend less time in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, may be more likely to be overweight, according to a report in the August issue of Archives of General Psychiatry.
The obesity rate has more than tripled among children aged 6 to 11 years in the past 30 years, and approximately 17 percent of U.S. adolescents are now overweight or obese, according to background information in the article. Obesity results from an imbalance between calorie intake and energy expenditure from physical activity, but little is known about other factors that can alter this balance. A number of studies have documented an association between fewer hours of sleep and higher body mass index (BMI) in both adults and children.
Xianchen Liu, M.D., Ph.D., of the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, and colleagues studied 335 children and adolescents age 7 to 17 years (average age 10.8). For three consecutive nights, participants’ sleep was monitored through polysomnography, which assesses total sleep time, time spent in REM, the time it takes to fall asleep and other variables. Weight and height were measured to calculate BMI.
A total of 49 participants (14.6 percent) were at risk for becoming overweight and 45 (13.4 percent) were overweight. Compared with children at a normal weight, those who were overweight slept about 22 minutes less per night and had lower sleep efficiency (percentage of time in bed that an individual is asleep), shorter REM sleep, less eye activity during REM sleep and a longer wait before the first REM period.
After adjusting for other related factors, one hour less of total sleep was associated with two-fold increased odds of being overweight and one hour less of REM sleep was associated with three-fold increased odds.
“Although the precise mechanisms are currently under investigation, the association between short sleep duration and overweight may be attributed to the interaction of behavioral and biological changes as a result of sleep deprivation,” the authors write. Sleep loss causes changes in hormone levels that may affect hunger, and also provides an individual with more waking hours in which to eat. In addition, sleep loss contributes to fatigue the following day, which may decrease physical activity and calorie expenditure.
“Given the fact that the prevalence of overweight among children and adolescents continues to increase and chronic sleep insufficiency becomes more prevalent in modern society, family- and school-based sleep interventions that aim to enhance sleep hygiene and increase sleep duration may have important public health implications for the prevention and intervention of obesity and type 2 diabetes in children,” the authors conclude. “
Furthermore, our results demonstrate an important relationship between REM sleep and high BMI and obesity, suggesting that the short sleep–obesity association may be attributed to reduced REM sleep time and decreased activity during REM sleep.”
Showing posts with label fitness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fitness. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
STUDY: U.S. Immigrant Childfren May Be Less Physically Active Than US-Born Children
Immigrant children in the United States appear to be less physically active and less likely to participate in sports than U.S.–born children, according to a report in the August issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
“Because of a dramatic increase in the prevalence of childhood obesity and diabetes mellitus during the past two decades, physical activity has assumed an increasingly prominent role in disease prevention and health promotion efforts in the United States and is considered one of the 10 leading health indicators for the nation,” according to background information in the article. This has resulted in a closer monitoring of physical activity and sedentary behavior levels in children and adults in the U.S.
With immigrants now accounting for 12.6 percent of the total U.S. population, “it is important to know how patterns of physical activity, inactivity and sedentary behaviors for this increasing segment of the population differ from those of the majority native population,” the authors note.
Gopal K. Singh, Ph.D., of the Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, Maryland., and colleagues analyzed data from the 2003 National Survey of Children’s Health, a telephone survey measuring regular physical activity, inactivity, television watching and lack of sports participation in U.S. children.
Of the total participants, more than 11 percent of U.S. children were found to be physically inactive, while 73.5 percent engaged in physical activity three or more days per week.
More than 42 percent of children did not participate in sports and 17 percent watched three or more hours of television per day.
“Physical inactivity and sedentary behaviors varied widely among children in various ethnic-immigrant groups,” the authors write. “For example, 22.5 percent of immigrant Hispanic children were physically inactive compared with 9.5 percent of U.S.-born white children with U.S.-born parents.” Immigrant children were more likely to be physically inactive and less likely to participate in sports than native children; “they were, however, less likely to watch television three or more hours per day than native children, although the nativity gap narrowed with increasing acculturation levels.”
“Given the health benefits of physical activity, continued higher physical inactivity and lower activity levels in immigrant children are likely to reduce their overall health advantage over U.S.-born populations during adulthood,” the authors conclude. “To reduce disparities in childhood physical activity, health education programs designed to promote physical activity should target not only children from socially disadvantaged households and neighborhoods but also children in immigrant families.”
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“Because of a dramatic increase in the prevalence of childhood obesity and diabetes mellitus during the past two decades, physical activity has assumed an increasingly prominent role in disease prevention and health promotion efforts in the United States and is considered one of the 10 leading health indicators for the nation,” according to background information in the article. This has resulted in a closer monitoring of physical activity and sedentary behavior levels in children and adults in the U.S.
With immigrants now accounting for 12.6 percent of the total U.S. population, “it is important to know how patterns of physical activity, inactivity and sedentary behaviors for this increasing segment of the population differ from those of the majority native population,” the authors note.
Gopal K. Singh, Ph.D., of the Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, Maryland., and colleagues analyzed data from the 2003 National Survey of Children’s Health, a telephone survey measuring regular physical activity, inactivity, television watching and lack of sports participation in U.S. children.
Of the total participants, more than 11 percent of U.S. children were found to be physically inactive, while 73.5 percent engaged in physical activity three or more days per week.
More than 42 percent of children did not participate in sports and 17 percent watched three or more hours of television per day.
“Physical inactivity and sedentary behaviors varied widely among children in various ethnic-immigrant groups,” the authors write. “For example, 22.5 percent of immigrant Hispanic children were physically inactive compared with 9.5 percent of U.S.-born white children with U.S.-born parents.” Immigrant children were more likely to be physically inactive and less likely to participate in sports than native children; “they were, however, less likely to watch television three or more hours per day than native children, although the nativity gap narrowed with increasing acculturation levels.”
“Given the health benefits of physical activity, continued higher physical inactivity and lower activity levels in immigrant children are likely to reduce their overall health advantage over U.S.-born populations during adulthood,” the authors conclude. “To reduce disparities in childhood physical activity, health education programs designed to promote physical activity should target not only children from socially disadvantaged households and neighborhoods but also children in immigrant families.”
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Thursday, July 3, 2008
Stroller Strides to Launch First Fit4Bay Prenatal FitnessClasses
For the past seven years, Stroller Strides has supported thousands of women through new motherhood with its postnatal mom-and-baby fitness program. This fall, the family-friendly exercise company will extend its same supportive services to the pregnant client, with its launch of Fit4Baby – an exclusive prenatal fitness program developed by Stroller Strides.
“We’ve long anticipated this expansion into prenatal fitness,” says Lisa Druxman, founder of Stroller Strides. “There is still quite a bit of misinformation out there in regard to exercise during pregnancy, and our clients can rest assured that we are well-versed in the latest research and recommendations pertaining to this important population of women, and are therefore able to offer the safest and most effective program to date.”
Like Stroller Strides, Fit4Baby will offer a total body interval workout including strength training, cardio and flexibility exercises that can be completed in either an outdoor or indoor environment. During the one-hour class, exercises will be adjusted to accommodate clients’ various stages of pregnancy, and further education from instructors on each phase will help participants understand the bodily changes taking place, how to best care for themselves, and the preparation process for motherhood.
‘Beta’ Fit4Baby classes will launch in select cities in August 2008, and all Stroller Strides franchisees will have the opportunity to become trained in the program in October.
Following the training, franchisees can begin offering the classes at any of their already existing Stroller Strides class locations, which currently number more than 700 and are found throughout the United States and in Canada.
“There’s increasing awareness that exercise is beneficial to both mom and baby during pregnancy,” Druxman explains. “Virtually every prenatal ache, pain and discomfort in a healthy pregnancy can be alleviated or lessened with exercise, and the added bonus of exercising in a group setting is the strong bonds and friendships that are built along the way.”
Prior to starting Fit4Baby or any other exercise program, pregnant women should obtain a physician’s clearance.
Stroller Strides classes are offered in over 700 locations in the United States and now in Canada. The hour-long classes emphasize cardiovascular activities and muscle-strengthening exercises using resistance bands and strollers, allowing moms to interact with their babies throughout their workout. To further assist mothers in all aspects of their lives, Stroller Strides partners with LUNA® and BOB™. For more information about Stroller Strides, including class locations, visit http://www.strollerstrides.com/
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“We’ve long anticipated this expansion into prenatal fitness,” says Lisa Druxman, founder of Stroller Strides. “There is still quite a bit of misinformation out there in regard to exercise during pregnancy, and our clients can rest assured that we are well-versed in the latest research and recommendations pertaining to this important population of women, and are therefore able to offer the safest and most effective program to date.”
Like Stroller Strides, Fit4Baby will offer a total body interval workout including strength training, cardio and flexibility exercises that can be completed in either an outdoor or indoor environment. During the one-hour class, exercises will be adjusted to accommodate clients’ various stages of pregnancy, and further education from instructors on each phase will help participants understand the bodily changes taking place, how to best care for themselves, and the preparation process for motherhood.
‘Beta’ Fit4Baby classes will launch in select cities in August 2008, and all Stroller Strides franchisees will have the opportunity to become trained in the program in October.
Following the training, franchisees can begin offering the classes at any of their already existing Stroller Strides class locations, which currently number more than 700 and are found throughout the United States and in Canada.
“There’s increasing awareness that exercise is beneficial to both mom and baby during pregnancy,” Druxman explains. “Virtually every prenatal ache, pain and discomfort in a healthy pregnancy can be alleviated or lessened with exercise, and the added bonus of exercising in a group setting is the strong bonds and friendships that are built along the way.”
Prior to starting Fit4Baby or any other exercise program, pregnant women should obtain a physician’s clearance.
Stroller Strides classes are offered in over 700 locations in the United States and now in Canada. The hour-long classes emphasize cardiovascular activities and muscle-strengthening exercises using resistance bands and strollers, allowing moms to interact with their babies throughout their workout. To further assist mothers in all aspects of their lives, Stroller Strides partners with LUNA® and BOB™. For more information about Stroller Strides, including class locations, visit http://www.strollerstrides.com/
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