Lack of sleep in light of the epidemic has led to an increase in the incidence of childhood obesity

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States (USA) showed that 15.4% of children They attended 29 clinics associated with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia during the COVID-19 pandemic, and they were obese. In 2019, the proportion was 13.7%.

The increase occurred in all age groups, ranging from 1% in adolescents aged 13-17 years to 2.6% in children aged 5-9 years.

The body mass index (BMI) of 169,179 children and adolescents treated in the period from June to December 2019 was measured and compared with 145,081 patients consulted in the same period in 2020.

Another study, coordinated by the Pennington Center for Biomedical Research, also in the US, showed that for every extra hour of sleep in 3- to 5-year-olds, there was a 0.48 decrease in BMI.

Understand the relationship between sleep and obesity in children

In addition to excessive consumption of high-calorie foods and a sedentary lifestyle, Sleep duration is a risk factor for childhood obesity.

Based on this data, the Instituto do Sono warns Brazilians, because the booking and suspension of classes due to the epidemic in the country has exacerbated childhood obesity.

According to Dr. Gustavo Moreira, a researcher at Instituto do Sono, the increase in obesity among children who sleep less is caused by a combination of factors.

“Theoretically, if you’re awake, you expend more energy, but in reality, the more time people spend awake, in front of a big or small screen, low-energy activities, on social media, video games and streaming a study. People spend more time awake in front of a large or small screen, low-energy activities, and video games streaming,” Moreira said. They exercise less and have more calories between foods.”

Another factor is that if the individual sleeps less, in the case of children and adolescents, the body perceives that this is not enough and the person is in a stressful situation.

We have two types of hormones that control our appetite: lepitin, which is the satiety hormone, and grelin, which is the hunger hormone. When I sleep less, it produces less leptin and more ghrelin, i.e. Increases my appetite, tendency to eat more There is no opportunity to spend ”, explained the doctor.

Moreira noted that the epidemic contributed to the growth of obesity because it changed the routine of children who, for a healthy life, need a balanced diet, exercise and energy expenditure.

However, to avoid contamination with the coronavirus, children have had to exchange outdoor activities with mobile games and distance learning school lessons.

When they spend a lot of time in front of screens, children eat several times a day, especially biscuits, snacks and sweets. The doctor said that the high exposure to screens push the youngsters to sleep late and wake up early.

How do you control?

Expert recommendations for preventing childhood obesity include:

1. Maintain regular eating, with schedules for all family meals

2. Prefer natural foods over processed foods such as canned and canned foods

3. Monitor the food pyramid of eight groups of essential healthy foods (carbohydrates, vegetables, fruits, milk and dairy products, meat, eggs, legumes, oilseeds, oils and fats, sugars and sweets)

4. It is also necessary for parents to be role models, because adults who follow a balanced diet influence their children to eat healthy.

The expert emphasized that this is necessary Create a routine For the child, with specific times for sleeping, waking, playing and studying. Next to reduce screen time and increase outdoor activities, Take children to play outdoors.

adult sleep

The health crisis has also affected the quality of adults’ sleep. According to a survey conducted by the Do Sono Institute, among the 1,600 respondents to the survey, 75% attributed the deterioration of sleep to increased anxiety; 64% stay longer in front of computer screens, television and mobile phones; And 54% are staying at home longer.

When addressing sleep quality, the study revealed that 67% of the participants had more difficulty falling asleep. 61.6% went to sleep later; And 59% get up a lot during the night.

Source: Agência Brasil