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| health information | health news

A wake-up call for teenagers

30 August 2007

Key facts

Not getting enough sleep over a long period of time can cause forgetfulness and may affect decision-making and judgement.
Lack of sleep may be linked to obesity and developing other health problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
Getting into a relaxing routine before going to bed will help encourage better sleep. This could include reading a book or having a hot bath.
The right environment is also important for good sleep. The bed should be comfortable and the room neither too hot nor too cold.

One in three teenagers are not getting enough sleep according to a recent survey by the Sleep Council.

The results showed that almost a third of children aged 12 to 16 are only getting between four and seven hours sleep on week nights. The Sleep Council recommend that young people in this age group get at least eight hours sleep to ensure they stay healthy.

One of the main problems preventing teenagers from getting all the sleep they need is the number of gadgets that they have in their bedrooms. Research has shown that children sleep less well if they have been watching television or playing computer games before they go to bed.

Most of the 1,000 teenagers who were surveyed have a phone, music system or television in their bedroom. Other electrical equipment that is commonly found in teenagers' bedrooms includes computers and games consoles. Experts advise that bedrooms should have as few distractions as possible and that beds should be associated only with sleep.

Approximately one in four teenagers said they fall asleep while watching television or with a gadget still running one or more times a week. Also, four out of 10 teenagers and half of girls aged 15 to 16 said they feel generally tired during the day.

Jan Turner from the Sleep Council said, "Adolescents not getting enough sleep is particularly worrying because their bodies are undergoing huge developments. Lack of sleep can lead to poor concentration, bad behaviour at school and can also affect their hormones." She stressed that teenagers should think very hard before compromising on sleep as it can affect their school work and future prospects. "Bad sleeping habits at a young age can carry on into later life."

The findings are also a cause for concern because lack of sleep may be linked to the rise in obesity among the general population. Not getting enough sleep can lead to raised levels of the hormone ghrelin which increases feelings of hunger. It can also cause levels of leptin, a hormone which decreases appetite, to fall. Therefore, if teenagers sleep less, they may feel hungrier and eat more. This could increase their risk of becoming obese.

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