The risk of obese teenagers contracting Type 2 diabetes could be deceased if they spend a minimum of seven-and-a-half hours in their beds every night. This was revealed by researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia who also said health problems may be caused by sleeping for longer than eight-and-a half hours. Statistics show that three out of four high school students are going without the amount of sleep recommended. The findings are published in the Diabetes Care Journal and show that the likelihood of glucose levels being raised is increased by having less sleep while insulin levels can decrease. Dr Dorit Koren, who is the study leader, said that more home based study, looking at the sleeping habits of obese teenagers, will be carried out for more detailed results. She added that getting enough sleep during adolescence is important as it helps to avoid health issues later in life. Inconsistent bedtimes may be cause of ADHD-like symptoms Symptoms similar to those exhibited by Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) sufferers could be appearing in children who have irregular sleep patterns. The American Journal of Family Therapy published research results showing that although they are not suffering from ADHD, more than five million youngsters are being treated with medication for the disorder. The findings also show that when compared to children who slept in their own beds every night, ADHD-like behaviour occurs seven times more often in children who did not sleep in their own beds. Another statistic shows that ADHD symptoms appear eight times more often in children who do not have regular bed times than in kids who had regular sleep patterns. Dr Robert M Pressman, lead researcher of the study, said that before any ADHD medication is considered, it is necessary to explore the bedtime habits and any bedtime problems. Parents, therapists and paediatricians were urged by Dr Pressman to eliminate all other possibilities before jumping to conclusions.
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