Poor Sleep Quality Can Significantly Lower a Child's Weight, Don't Ignore It
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Many parents focus only on food intake when they notice their child’s weight is decreasing. However, Dr. Ian Suryadi Suteja, M.Med Sc, Sp.A., revealed that non-dietary factors, such as a nighttime rest routine, play a crucial role. ‘Yes (it significantly affects a child’s weight). If they get enough sleep, they should sleep starting at 9:00 PM. If possible, they should not be disturbed until at least 3:00 AM,’ said Dr. Ian when interviewed in Central Jakarta on Friday 6 March 2026.
Inadequate sleep is often overlooked when monitoring your child’s growth and development. Yet, poor sleep habits are crucial for optimising the body’s vital hormones.
Children who miss out on the deep sleep phase during the window from 11:00 PM to 2:00 AM will miss the golden moment to produce substances that trigger physical development. If this phase is frequently disturbed, the growth and development process may be hampered and have a direct negative impact on their weight.
‘Why is that? Because research shows that if a child is in deep sleep between 11:00 PM and 2:00 AM, their growth hormone levels are very high,’ explained Dr. Ian. ‘In fact, growth hormone levels can be four times higher in children who frequently wake up at night and whose sleep is disturbed between 11:00 PM and 2:00 AM. So, the requirement is that the child must sleep deeply during that time,’ he stressed.
Achieving deep sleep requires a regular daily routine from the start of the night to ensure a smooth progression. However, obstacles such as medical conditions or environmental habits can disrupt this natural cycle.
Some common disturbances that can wake a child include diaper changes, feeding with the dream feeding method, loud noises, or the bed shaking when the father or mother wakes to urinate in the middle of the night.
‘So, to start sleeping deeply, your child should be sleeping from 9:00 PM. Children who sleep well will naturally gain weight and height due to the influence of growth hormone,’ said Dr. Ian.
Moreover, a good night’s sleep helps the body rest well. A well-rested body supports immunity, making children less susceptible to illness. Because sick children may experience a reduced appetite, which can lead to weight loss.
To prevent weight loss, better sleep quality should be paired with adequate nutrition. The Indonesian Ministry of Health (Kemenkes RI) recommends a balanced nutrition concept via the visual guide ‘Isi Piringku’. On one plate, half should be vegetables and fruits, with vegetables taking a slightly larger share. The other half should consist of staple foods and side dishes, with the staple foods portion larger than the side dishes.
The following outlines the components of a balanced diet: