Research shows the importance of sleep
URGING children to get more sleep may be a ‘‘stealth’’ way of reducing the risk of obesity in young people.
It is a theory Silke Morrison has been researching for the past three years, and one that will have her graduate with a PhD in medicine today.
Her research explored the mechanisms that may be responsible for the impact sleep loss has on weight in children who do not sleep enough, and involved a study of 105 healthy Dunedin children.
‘‘We found that children who don’t get enough sleep conthe postgraduate student community was amazing.
‘‘I wanted to be part of what they were doing.’’
She has previously been a practice nurse, a private practice dietitian, an assistant research fellow in the university’s human nutrition department, and a professional practice fellow for the human nutrition dietetics master’s programme.
While she was mulling over what subject to complete a doctorate on, serendipitously, a notice was posted on a university advertising board, calling for a PhD student to research sleep and obesity.
‘‘It was one of those life moments where I saw, with clarity, my path for the next three years.
‘‘Not only was it the opportunity to work with a researcher I really looked up to, but it also meant I could complete the thesis just before I turned the significant milestone of 50.’’
She said it felt ‘‘pretty special’’ to be graduating with a doctorate, especially because she is the first in her family who has had the opportunity to attend university.
Mrs Morrison is now applying for funding for additional research on the topic, and is also working in the department of medicine on a followup study to the prevention of obesity in infants.