Regular bedtimes make children less likely to be obese
- Scientists found a link between family structure and emotional behaviour at 11
- This in turn affected whether or not they were likely to be obese, research found
- Giving children ‘supersize portions’ leads them to eat more if they aren’t hungry
Sophie Borland Health Editor For The Daily Mail
View
comments
Putting children to bed at the same time every night stops them gaining too much weight, research shows.
Eating regular meals and watching less than an hour of TV an evening also help prevent obesity. The study of almost 11,000 British children found a strong link between a well-defined family structure and emotional behaviour at the age of 11.
This in turn affected whether or not they were likely to be obese, the research found.
Sarah Anderson, the American scientist who led the study, said a good bedtime routine was key. She added: ‘This study provides more evidence that routines for preschool-aged children are associated with their healthy development and could reduce the likelihood that these children will be obese.
Regular bedtimes for children stops them from becoming overweight in later life. Research links a well-defined family structure and emotional behaviour at the age of 11 (file photo)
‘We saw that children who had the most difficulties with emotion regulation at age three also were more likely to be obese at age 11.
‘This research allows us to better understand how young children’s routines around sleep, meals, and screen time relate to their regulation of emotion and behaviour.
‘Sleep is so important and it’s important for children in particular.’
The research was carried out jointly by academics at University College London and Ohio State University in the US.
-
Mother of boy born with just two per cent of his brain calls…
The businesswoman taking on Wills and Kate in fight over…
-
The First Ladies: Melania and Ivanka have a ‘frosty’…
It studied 10,955 children in the UK whose routines, weight and emotional regulation were measured when they were three and 11 years old.
Emotional regulation was defined as whether or not they became easily frustrated or overexcited. Those who had a regular bedtime, ate meals at the same time and watched an hour or less of TV a night had more self-control.
And those who had better emotional self-control were less likely to be obese, the results show.
In the study, Those who had a regular bedtime, ate meals at the same time and watched an hour or less of TV a night had more self-control (file photo)
Dr Anderson, who is based at Ohio’s College of Public Health, added: ‘Recommending regular bedtime routines is unlikely to cause harm, and may help children in other ways, such as through emotion regulation.’
Giving children ‘supersize portions’ leads them to eat more whether they are hungry or not, a study has found. Youngsters who were offered salted popcorn, or carrots, ate more when it was served up in extra-large packs.
The Belgian study found the effect was even more pronounced with sweet food.
Share or comment on this article
- Outsiders Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen sweep to…
- One is not amused! Kate Middleton is less than impressed…
- Happy Days actress Erin Moran spent final days ‘broke and…
- Ferne McCann is targeted by Twitter trolls as she reveals…
- ‘At the age of 17, Emmanuel told me he’d marry me’:…
- Paedophile footballer Adam Johnson ‘left heartbroken’…
- PICTURED: Insurance company president and charity worker…
- The First Ladies: Melania and Ivanka have a ‘frosty’…
- Blair urges Labour Remain voters to back TORY candidates…
- Madeleine McCann was snatched and taken to a secret…
- Pictured on their fairytale wedding day: The dashing…
- Towie star Ferne McCann is spotted at Bristol airport…
- Taken home to die: Heartbreak of young mother, 24, as…
- Daughter suing mom for ‘frittering away more than $13m of…
- Ferne McCann emerges looking shattered as father of her…
- A ‘£250,000 book deal’, rumours of a Celebrity Big…
- Corbyn at war with his OWN party: Labour insists it does…
- Madeleine McCann was ‘snatched by smugglers and sold to a…
Comments 0
Share what you think
No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts,
or debate this issue live on our message boards.
Close
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual.
Your comment will be credited to your MailOnline persona.
Close
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual
We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook.
The post will be credited to your MailOnline username. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.