PRESS RELEASE: Why a good night’s sleep is so important for babies
Embargoed until 12.01 am Sydney (AEST) Monday 21 October 2019
Melbourne, Victoria – 21 October 2019 – World-leading public health researchers will present the latest research outlining the most effective ways to prevent children from gaining excessive weight in the first few years of life.
While physical activity and a healthy diet are unarguably important for long-term health, researchers are now seeing the benefits of good sleep in the first two years of life on a child’s weight.
It is estimated that over 41 million children under 5 years of age are overweight or obese worldwide.
Overweight or obese children are more likely to have asthma, sleep problems, type 2 diabetes, lower self-esteem and emotional problems compared to children of healthy weight. They are also likely to be overweight or obese as adults, where more serious chronic health problems occur, such as heart disease, stroke and metabolic problems.
Reducing childhood obesity is a clear public health priority.
In a special session during the 11th World Congress on Developmental Origins of Health and Disease being held in Melbourne, public health experts and health economists from Australia, New Zealand, China, Singapore, UK, and Norway will present research exploring the most effective ways to prevent children from gaining excess weight early in life.
Professor Rachael Taylor, from the Edgar Diabetes and Obesity Research Centre at the University of Otago New Zealand, is presenting findings from the Prevention of Overweight in Infancy (POI) trial, exploring which intervention is the most successful to target for preventing child weight gain: diet, activity or sleep.
The 802 pregnant women enrolled in the study were randomised to receive either a traditional food and activity program or a novel sleep intervention for the first 2 years of their child’s life. This sleep intervention involved a group education session in late pregnancy outlining what to expect of their baby’s and their own sleep in the first few months of life and where to seek help.
Researchers then visited the new mums in their homes when their baby was 3 weeks old, to provide advice and strategies that responded to each mother’s individual needs. Parents were asked if they would like more help or advice when their baby was 6 months old.
At age 3.5 years, children who had received the sleep intervention were half as likely to be obese as the other children in the study. This finding was still evident when the children were measured again at 5 years of age.
“Sleep appears to be a very successful and suitable way to prevent early childhood obesity, particularly at this age when children’s diet and activity are changing all the time,” explains Professor Taylor.
“Learning to establish good, healthy sleep patterns is one of the best things you can do for your family – as everyone benefits in a wide variety of ways,” states Professor Taylor – a sentiment with which every new parent would agree.
Dr Victoria Brown, from Deakin Health Economics, within the Institute for Health Transformation at Deakin University, will also present her research in this session.
“Understanding the economic-related consequences of early childhood obesity and the cost-effectiveness of prevention interventions will provide both better health outcomes and true value for money,” explains Dr Brown. “This evidence is important to support new public health initiatives.”
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The biennial World Congress of the International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease is being held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 20th-23rd October 2019. Approximately 1,000 delegates from around the world will attend the Congress.
The International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease is a not for profit, international research society comprising scientists, doctors, health workers and public health experts, dedicated to studying how a healthy start to life can reduce the risk of developing many diseases, now and in the future. Members of the society work to improve the life-long health of every mother, father, and child, and create societies that provide healthy, safe and supportive environments.
Professor Taylor and Dr Brown will present their research in a session entitled Early Prevention of Childhood Obesity and Diabetes, on Monday, October 21, 10:40 am – 12:20 pm.
Media contacts
Developmental Origins of Health and Disease Australia and New Zealand
Associate Professor Nicolette Hodyl (Vice President) 0477 668 355 [email protected]
Dr Hayley Dickinson (Secretary) 0413 246 120 [email protected]
