Studies have shown that not getting enough sleep can be a contributing factor to weight gain and both children and adults.  The problem with a lack of sleep is the cycle that it creates.  For children, it goes something like this:

• Child stays up late watching TV, playing video games, doing homework, etc.
• Child wakes up the following day without enough rest
• Child spends the next day with low energy levels, leading to inactive lifestyle because they are tired
• Child does not get enough exercise for the day, leading to weight gain
• Child has energy left over at night because they didn't exercise, so they stay up late again….

This cycle can be detrimental to proper health as it will continue to repeat itself.  Toss in some unhealthy eating habits, and you have a road map for successfully gaining weight.  As responsible parents, we need to ensure that our children do not get stuck in this cycle.  At our summer weight loss camps, we do our part to make sure campers get enough rest at night and burn plenty of energy throughout the day.

At home, parents can start with some easy solutions.  Limit the amount of time kids spend doing "inactivities" like watching TV and playing on the computer.  A TV/computer/video game "cut off" time in the evening is a simple way to keep kids from staying up late doing these things.

Homework is also a common culprit of late bedtimes.  The easiest way to curb this problem is to have your kids work on their homework as soon as they get home.  They will have it out of the way when bed time rolls around, allowing them to get proper rest.  It might also help their grades when they're not rushing to complete assignments late at night.

Dealing with excuses for not going to bed is another common problem.  Once bed time approaches, kids have a habit of suddenly needing a drink of water, a shower, or anything else that will allow them to stay up later.  The first step in combatting this issue is to make sure these things are taken care of earlier in the night.  You can also help get your kids ready for bed by making sure they get some activity during the day.  Give them some time to play outside or get them involved in extra curricular activities that take place after school where they will get some exercise.

Finally, a well balanced meal at dinner time will also help.  A square meal a few hours before bed will reduce late night snack cravings that are normally not healthy choices.

The simple fact is that the factors that contribute to weight loss in adults are nearly the same in children - proper diet and exercise.  Children that do not get enough sleep at night are less likely to get proper exercise the following day, which can lead to weight gain.  As a parent, you can learn from the strategies used at weight loss camps to proactively address these problems by limiting inactivity time, making sure homework is completed early, forcing them to get some exercise, and serving healthy meals.