Study suggests letting children sleep late on weekends may help them avoid becoming overweight.

Source: AMA Morning Rounds 10/29/09

HealthDay (10/28, Freeman) reported that "letting children sleep late on weekends and holidays might help them avoid becoming overweight or obese," according to a study published in the Nov. issue of Pediatrics. Investigators "found that children who got less sleep tended to be heavier (as measured by...BMI) than children who slept more." However, "among children who slept less than eight hours a night, those who compensated for their weekday sleep deficit by sleeping late on weekends or holidays were significantly less likely to be overweight or obese."