A new Health Study conducted in the UK found that children who receive adequate sleep at night are far less likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes in comparison to those who don’t get enough sleep.

The research study took into account sleep periods of more than 4,500 children in Britain. All the children fell into the age group of 9 and 10. The researchers also recorded children’s body measurements and took their blood samples. Kids, on an average, slept 10.5 hours every day. The sleep duration, however, ranged from 8 to 12 hours.

Inadequate sleep linked to higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes

According to Reuters, the study found that kids who had adequate sleep at night had lower insulin resistance, lower body mass index as well as lower fasting glucose as compared to those who got less sleep. Children who slept an hour less were found to have a higher risk factor for insulin resistance. The study report, which was published in the journal Pediatrics, also found that children who slept less were more likely to be overweight or obese.

One of the lead researchers of the study, Christopher Owen from St. George’s, University of London, said that considering the research results, it was found that increasing the sleep duration can help in reducing the body fat levels and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes early in life.

Recommended sleep tenure for children

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, children who are one to two years old should get at least 11 to 14 hours of sleep every night. Those aged three through five should get an adequate sleep of around 10 to 13 hours. The health associations recommend that school going kids aged six to twelve years should take 9 to 12 hours of sleep, while teenagers should take at least eight to ten hours of sleep every night.

In an interview with ABC News, pediatric specialist, Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez said that sleep is as much important for good health as eating right and doing exercise. The doctor stated that Inadequate sleep in children also results in behavior problems, irritability, difficulty in concentrating and lower academic performance.

To make sure that kids get sufficient sleep, Dr. Bracho-Sanchez recommends parents see to it that their kids follow a regular sleep timetable. They should limit their kid’s screen time before bed and if possible, remove all the electronic gadgets from the child's bedroom, especially their phone and laptop.