Monday Lack of sleep puts Beijingers at risk

Children and teenagers in Beijing get less sleep than those in other parts of the country, putting them at a higher risk of physical and mental health problems, a report has warned.

Residents sleep 7.6 hours a night on average, but about 25 percent of the city population regularly gets insufficient sleep, according to the China sleep index released by the capital’s Health and Family Planning Commission.

At least 30 percent survive on fewer than 6.5 hours a night, the report said.

In particular, it said, children and adolescents living in the capital get less sleep than their peers elsewhere because of the large amounts of homework, excessive use of electronic devices and poor sleeping patterns.