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Directions: 1. Divide the class into two groups and discuss various aspects about sleeping. Below are some sample discussion questions. *define bold faced words for students1. Do you think you get enough sleep? How many hours of sleep do you need?

2. Are you an early bird or a night owl?3. Do you often pull all-nighters?4. How do you feel in the morning if you stay up late the previous night?5. Do you often feel drowsy during the day?6. Do you often have an early night? 7. According to some research sleeping on the job for 20 minutes ups employees performance. Some companies even offer napping rooms to their staff. Do you think you could do with a nap break during the day?8. Do you have any tips on how to stay awake when you feel sleepy, e.g. during boring classes?9. Do you sometimes find it difficult to fall asleep? Why?10. What advice would you give to someone who has sleep problems? Is a sleeping pill a good remedy?2. Have the students look at the words related to weight on their vocabulary list. Describe how the words are similar but often used in different situations. Sample questions are below. Have the students make a sentence using each word in its proper context.

fat

overweight

plump

chubbyobese

big

stocky

1. Which word is usually used to describe women who are slightly fat in an attractive way?

2. Which word is used mainly to describe babies and children who are fat in a pleasant

way?

3. Which word is very direct and not polite?

4. Which word means fat but is not offensive?

5. Which word means short, broad and strong?

6. Which word is usually used by doctors about people who are unhealthy because they

weigh too much? 7. Which word is used to be polite?

3. Introduce the article entitled Obesity Linked to Less Sleep. Have the students read the article and then have them fill out the True/False questions at the end in pairs. Go over the answers as a group. 4. Discuss the findings of the article. Sample post-discussion questions are below:1. Do you believe the findings presented in the article?

2. Are you surprised by the results of the research?

3. What are possible reasons for obesity?

Relevant Vocabulary

Sleep:

early bird

night owl

all-nighter

Weight:

fat

overweight

plump

chubby

obese

stocky

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Source: www.theaustralian.news.com; October 2006Obesity Linked to Less Sleep

A TREND for children and adolescents to stay up later and sleep less may be linked to rising levels of obesity, a review of existing research said.

Bristol University researcher Shahad Taheri today said televisions, computers, mobile phones and other gadgets should be banned from children's bedrooms to enable them to get a good night's sleep. Writing in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, Mr Taheri said there was increasing evidence that shortened sleeping times result in metabolic changes that might contribute to obesity, insulin-resistance, diabetes and heart

disease.

A British study published last year indicated that insufficient sleep in infants aged 30 months was associated with obesity by the time they reached the age of seven.

Mr Taheri said this suggested that sleep loss at a young age might alter the body's mechanisms that regulated appetite and energy expenditure. Limited sleep is also a problem for teenagers, whose need for sleep increases during the critical years of adolescent development.

Other research, published by Mr Taheri in 2004, found that adults sleeping for only five hours had almost 15 per cent higher levels of ghrelin - a hormone released by the stomach to signal hunger - than those managing eight hours. Children waking up tired from not enough sleep were also likely to get less physical exercise, adding to the likelihood of putting on weight, Mr Taheri said. They would miss the beneficial effects of physical activity, not least its tendency to lead to better sleep.

"Sleep is probably not the only answer to the obesity pandemic," Mr Taheri said. "But its effect should be taken seriously, as even small changes in energy balance are beneficial."

He said children should observe regular sleeping and waking times, avoid large meals at bedtimes and have a quiet, dark bedroom that was neither too hot nor cold. Adolescents should be allowed to sleep in longer on weekends, but no more than two to three hours beyond normal waking time, as this disrupts the body's internal clock.Determine whether the following statements are true or false.

1. According to Shahad Taheri, children should not have gadgets in

their bedrooms.

2. Too little sleep is the main reason for obesity.

3. Infants who do not sleep well are usually obese.

4. Teenagers need to sleep longer during adolescent development.

5. Adults who sleep for only five hours feel less hungry.

6. Adolescents should not sleep longer on weekends as it disrupts

their internal body clock.