We all know (or should) that lack of sleep is linked to obesity. Here’s an interesting study: sleeping in on weekends helps kids (and hopefully growed ups) avoid obesity. 🙂

Researchers at the University of Chicago analyzed the sleep patterns and BMI of 308 children between the ages of 4 to 10, dividing them into nine groups and using wrist actigraphs for one week to determine when they were asleep. The group of children with normal sleep patterns had the lowest risk of obesity and metabolic complications.

The study noted that on average, the kids slept about eight hours each night, less than what they should be getting. (Kids ages 5 to 8 should sleep 9 to 10 hours). The healthiest group was the one who slept regularly and “enough” meaning 9 to 10 hours per night. Second healthiest, however, was the group who “caught up” on their sleep on the weekends.

Now that I have validation for No. 5 of my Top Ten things, I just have to persuade my kidlets to sleep in…