A new report suggests that catching up on sleep on the weekends can counter some of the effects of sleep deprivation.
A study in the journal "pediatrics" followed more than 300 children for a week.
The children who didn't get nearly enough sleep during the week had increased risk of being obese.
But scientists at the University of Chicago discovered that when the sleep deprived children slept longer on the weekends to compensate. Their risk for obesity and metabolic problems was reduced.
The authors conclude that catch up sleep and good sleep routines all week long could help children combat weight issues.
