AMA urges late start at schools for quality sleep

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June 17, 2016 6:57 AM

The American Medical Association has urged schools to start later in the morning so that teenagers can get quality sleep. This is one of the most important factors in being active and functional during the day

Late start for quality sleep

The American Medical Association has urged schools to start later in the morning so that teenagers can get quality sleep. This is one of the most important factors in being active and functional during the day.

In a new policy gotten on Tuesday, the AMA suggested middle and high schools should begin at 8:30 a.m. at the earliest due to research, which shows that puberty is followed by a biological shift in circadian rhythm, which adds to later bedtimes and start times in adolescents.

The influential doctors group stated almost 10 percent of U.S. high schools today begin at or before 7:30 a.m. as districts plan to accommodate additional classes, sports and extracurricular activities.

Not enough sleep has been tied to a lots of mental and physical problems, ranging from poor memory performance and mood disorders to impaired immune function and unhealthy body mass index, according to AMA.

According to Dr. William Kobler, AMA board member, “Sleep deprivation is a growing public health issue affecting our nation’s adolescents, putting them at risk for mental, physical and emotional distress and disorders.

Scientific evidence strongly suggests that allowing adolescents more time for sleep at the appropriate hours results in improvements in health, academic performance, behavior, and general well-being.”

From a recent study, only 32 percent of American teens stated getting at average of eight hours of sleep on a school night. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests teenagers between 14 and 17 years old should get 8.5 to 9.5 hours of sleep per night.

The AMA’s new policy, received at the group’s annual meeting in Chicago, also supports physicians educating parents, school administrators and teachers in reference to the importance of sleep for adolescent mental and physical health.

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