Weight loss, one of the oft-decided resolutions by numerous American kids, is now just a few snores away! Literally, for scientists have deduced that short sleep duration is a cause for obesity, indicating that sleep longer could help people achieve weight loss.

Weight loss followers should have a look at the study published in this month’s Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine journal, which implies that children who do not have adequate nighttime sleep have a higher risk of childhood obesity. The study was conducted by Janice F. Bell of the University of Washington in Seattle, and Frederick J. Zimmerman of the University of California, Los Angeles. They have further pointed out, that napping during the day was not sufficient to compensate for the lack of night sleep.

The study involved 1930 American kids divided into two groups, one having kids from ages 1 month to 50 months and the other comprising kids aged between 5 and 13 years old. The data was collected with 1997 being the baseline year and 2002. The follow-up pointed out that 33 percent of children in the younger group and 36 percent of children in the older group were either overweight or obese.

In the first group, insufficient nighttime sleep at baseline was associated with greater risk for later obesity or overweight. In the second group, a lack of sufficient nighttime sleep at follow-up was connected with an increased risk of alteration from normal weight to overweight and from overweight to obesity.

Weight loss addicts however need not rejoice too much, since the study is merely observational and has not been proven scientifically. Obesity is also linked to high fat dinners and mid night snacking habits of these children. However, one could rest assured that sleeping for longer hours at night can now be justified as being a means of keeping one’s weight under control! So, sleep tight and long to stay in shape!