Health Experts Advocate for Later School Start Times to Enhance Teen Sleep

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In an exciting development for adolescent health, the American Medical Association (AMA) has recently endorsed the idea of later school start times to promote better well-being among teenagers. The struggle to rouse teens from their slumber every morning might have less to do with their attitude and more with their biological clock. Research shows that during adolescence, the body’s natural inclination is to stay awake later and wake up later, making the early start times a challenge.

Prior to puberty, most kids feel sleepy around 8:00 or 9:00 PM. However, as they enter puberty, this cycle shifts, prompting them to feel alert well into the night, often not ready for bed until 10:00 or 11:00 PM. A study from UCLA explains this phenomenon as ‘sleep phase delay,’ indicating that teens experience a natural delay in their sleep needs by approximately two hours. With 10% of U.S. high schools starting classes at or before 7:30 AM, many teens are left struggling to achieve the recommended 8.5 to 9.5 hours of sleep each night.

The AMA’s policy now urges school districts nationwide to set start times for middle and high schools no earlier than 8:30 AM. In their announcement, the AMA also encourages doctors to inform parents, educators, and community members about the critical role sleep plays in the mental and physical health of adolescents, emphasizing their unique biological requirements.

Insufficient sleep has been linked to various mental and physical health issues. The AMA notes that lack of adequate sleep can lead to memory problems and mood disorders, with increased symptoms of anxiety and depression observed in those who sleep less than six hours a night. So, it turns out there’s scientific backing for why our teens seem perpetually exhausted.

Dr. Clara Jenkins, an AMA Board Member, aptly stated, “While adjusting school start times may be a challenging process for districts and communities, the health benefits for our young population are significant and far outweigh any potential drawbacks.”

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In summary, the AMA’s push for later school start times reflects a growing understanding of the importance of sleep for teenagers. With biological changes affecting their sleep patterns, schools must adapt to promote better health outcomes for students.