Resting
Easier
One-fourth of overweight children may have sleep problems that regular physical activity can largely resolve, according to Dr. Catherine L. Davis, an MCG clinical health psychologist whose findings were published in the November issue of Obesity.
In her study, a surprising 25 out of 100 overweight, inactive children tested positive for sleep-disordered breathing, including telltale snoring. After three months of vigorous after-school activity, the number was cut in half. In children who exercised the longest, the number was reduced by 80 percent.
The children, age 7 to 11, were divided into three groups: a control group and groups who exercised 20 and 40 minutes daily, respectively.
“Existing data suggest about 2 percent of children have sleep problems, but with 37 percent of children now considered overweight, the percentage may be much higher,” Dr. Davis said. “We believe this study is a red flag to pediatricians to ask parents about their children’s snoring. Not sleeping well can affect children’s behavior and their ability to function in school.”