Sleep deprivation may increase teenagers’ risk of obesity and high blood pressure, according to a new study. Sleeping less than eight hours a night increases your risk for these conditions, according to research presented at ESC Congress 2022. Only 34 percent of the participants aged 12 slept eight hours or more a night, according to the study. After 14 and 16 years, the percentage dropped to 23 and 19 percent, respectively. At ages 12, 14, and 16, overweight/obesity prevalence was 27 percent, 24 percent, and 21 percent, respectively. Compared to children who got over 8 hours of sleep, children who got less than 7 hours were 21% more likely to have obesity at 12 and 72% more likely at 14.
“Sleep should be regarded as a pillar of comprehensive healthcare, complementing nutrition and physical activity on a daily basis in order to maintain optimal health,” said Dr. Louis Morledge, an internist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. Besides eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly, Americans of all ages would benefit from a good night’s sleep.
