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A study published in the November issue of Pediatrics suggests that allowing children to sleep late on weekends and holidays can help curb obesity and overweight, HealthDay reports. Based on data collected by Hong Kong researchers on 5,159 children between age 5 and age 15 regarding their sleep habits, lifestyle, height and weight, the researchers determined that children who slept fewer hours tended to have higher body mass indices than children who slept more. However, among children who slept fewer than eight hours per night during the week, those who compensated by sleeping late on weekends or holidays were significantly less likely to be overweight or obese. The research also revealed that overweight children were less likely to catch up on sleep during weekends or holidays than their normal-weight peers, a factor that the researchers say could be attributed to the fact that overweight children spent more time completing homework or watching television. Although the research confirms previous studies suggesting a link between increased sleep and a reduced risk of overweight or obesity, Kristen Knutson, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Chicago, who was not involved in the study, noted that it is "the first to show that extending sleep on weekends may help with avoiding weight gain." Despite the promising results, the researchers cautioned that irregular sleep patterns and insufficient sleep among school-aged children can result in a "variety of serious repercussions, including increased daytime sleepiness, academic difficulties, and mood and behavioral problems" (Freeman, HealthDay, 10/28/09; Wing et al., Pediatrics, November 2009 [subscription required]).