A good night's sleep reduces childhood obesity risk

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080207/hl_afp/healthchildrensleepobesity;_ylt=Ajqo4I0.0iRy5BNXqKTvRtTVJRIF

Thu Feb 7, 6:44 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Children lacking enough shut-eye face a greater risk of becoming obese than kids who get a good night's sleep

Each extra hour of sleep cuts a child's risk of becoming overweight or obese by nine percent, according to an analysis of epidiomogical studies by researchers from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

By contrast, children who got the least sleep had a 92 percent higher change of being overweight or obese than children who slept enough, said the study published in the journal Obesity.