A study has revealed that toddlers who sleep less than 10 hours, are more likely to gain weight in comparison to those who sleep for at least 13 hours.
The Unviersity College of London carried out research on over 2,500 children aged 16 months and discovered that those who got less sleep, ate a tenth more calories than toddlers who had slept for longer.
Researchers said the reasons behind the results were not clear, but believed that the disruption in appetite hormones could be caused as a result of shorter sleeping patterns.
Obesity campaigners believe the reason that children with lack of sleep would be more prone to gaining weight was mostly due to parents' efforts to calm tired toddlers with food.
