Doctors’ Group Backs Later School Start Times

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To help ease sleep deprivation among teens, the American Medical Association recommends that middle and high school classes should not start until 8:30 a.m.

The new policy, adopted at the annual meeting of the American Medical Association (AMA) in Chicago this week, also states that doctors need to educate parents, teachers, school officials and others about the importance of sleep for teens’ physical and mental health.

“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,” AMA board member Dr. William Kobler said in an association news release.

“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,” Kobler said.

Recent research shows that only 32 percent of American teens get at least eight hours of sleep on an average school night. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that teens aged 14 to 17 should get 8.5 to 9.5 hours of sleep per night for optimal health and learning.

Currently, nearly 10 percent of U.S. high schools start at or before 7:30 a.m., the AMA said.

“We believe delaying school start times will help ensure middle and high school students get enough sleep, and that it will improve the overall mental and physical health of our nation’s young people,” Kobler said.

“While implementing a delayed school start time can be an emotional and potentially stressful issue for school districts, families and members of the community,” Kobler added, “the health benefits for adolescents far outweigh any potential negative consequences.”

More information

The National Sleep Foundation has more about teens and sleep.

Source: HealthDay

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