Good Sleep, Eating Together and Less TV Can Help Prevent Childhood Obesity

First Lady Michelle Obama recently announced an ambitious goal: solving the growing childhood obesity problem within a generation with her 'Let's Move' program. While the standard 'good diet and exercise' refrain is one we will undoubtedly hear quite often, the First Lady might want to also consider a more psycho-social aspect to add to the weight-loss formula. A recent study published in the research journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics found that family behavior may be one of the keys to fighting childhood obesity.

A recent study sought to determine the connection between three household routines (Limiting television viewing time regularly eating the evening meal as a family, and obtaining adequate sleep) and the prevalence of obesity in children. The study concluded that children exposed to the all three of the fore-mentioned routines had a 40% lower prevalence of obesity than those exposed to none of these routines. Although implementing these routines might prove difficult for the modern American family for a variety of reasons, Sarah Anderson, the study's lead researcher, explained in that parents should "make these behaviors a priority. Sit down and figure out how you can make it happen."

More information on the link between obesity and sleep

Online publication of the referenced research study

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Good Sleep, Eating Together and Less TV Can Help Prevent Childhood Obesity