HHS HealthBeat (December 23, 2011)

Well-rested teens?

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

A study indicates that teens who get enough physical activity also seem to get enough sleep, while those who hang out at the computer don’t. Researcher Kathryn Foti of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed national survey data on almost 15,000 high school students, looking at who got at least eight hours of sleep and who didn’t.

“Those who get at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily are more likely to get eight hours of sleep than those who aren’t physically active.”  (7 seconds)

Foti also says teens who spent at least two hours per school day on computers – for reasons other than homework – were less likely to get their eight hours than were students who spent no extra time on computers.

The study is in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: December 23, 2011