Doctors’ Group Urges Delayed Start Times for Schools

JerryB7/iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Sleep experts with the American Thoracic Society issued an update Monday to current recommendations regarding sleep requirements for kids.

Their finding: That delaying school start time from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. may significantly increase sleep duration, improving alertness, motivation and moods in adolescents.

The doctors also recommended seven to nine hours of sleep for optimal health in adults, stating that less than six hours of sleep can be linked to increased disease risk and mortality.

Their recommendations were published Monday in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine and are based on past research.

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