Study Links Late Bedtimes To Weight Gain
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Whatever is keeping you up at night, may be causing you to gain weight.
Researchers at the University of California at Berkeley have found a link between body mass index and sleep.
Teens and adults who get more zzzz's are less likely to gain weight than those burn the midnight oil.
The study, published in the October issue of Journal Sleep, followed 3,342 adolescents into adulthood, and examined their BMI and bedtimes.
According to Berkeley News, the researchers found "for every hour of sleep they lost, they gained 2.1 points on the BMI index." A healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9.
"These results highlight adolescent bedtimes, not just total sleep time, as a potential target for weight management during the transition to adulthood," Lauren Asarnow, lead author of the study said.
The results suggest teens who turn in earlier, "set their weight on a healthier course as they emerge into adulthood," Asarnow said.
According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, teens should get 9-to-10 hours of sleep a day, but research has shown 70% of high students don't get enough sleep on school nights.
