- Obese children are 10 times more likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which further disrupts sleep and makes them 7 times more likely to experience continued weight gain and hypertension
- Early life predictors of obesity include short sleep duration (less than 10.5 hours) during infancy and early childhood
- Insufficient duration or disrupted (poor quality/OSA) sleep at night results in:
- Increased cortisol levels and altered glucose tolerance
- Release of inflammatory cytokines
- Increase in SNS activity (hypertension)
- 20 percent decrease in production of leptin (appetite suppressant)
- 15 percent to 30 percent increase in the production of ghrelin (appetite stimulant)
- Short sleep duration is common in school-aged children, affecting 43 percent of sixth graders, and even worse in young teens, affecting 70 percent of high-school seniors
Make a referral - Call 404-785-2974 or download the polysomnogram (PSG) order form and fax to 404-785-2211.
Speak with a sleep specialist - If you have further questions that you would like to discuss with a Children's sleep specialist call 404-785-2974.