Obese children are ten times more likely to develop sleep apnoea - a disorder where a child's breathing is obstructed during sleep, according to a study conducted by the Chinese University.

The study, which tested 90 children between the ages of seven to 15 from 1998 to 2000, found symptoms of sleep apnoea much more in obese children - amounting to a significant 26 percent.

The rate of occurrences of sleep suffocation is only 2.3 percent for normal children, said professor Albert Li, who carried out the study.

"Sleep apnoea is a serious disorder associated with obesity, which contributes to the fattening of lymphatic cells in the esophagus, where the airway is often obstructed," he told reporters at a press conference yesterday.

Li said the condition can affect a child's normal growth and physical development, and should be treated as early as possible.

"If parents discover signs or symptoms of sleep apnoea or breathing difficulties when their children sleep, they should seek medical attention immediately," he stressed.

The sleep disorder could lead to further ailments at a young age, including high blood pressure, stunted growth, fatigue and a lack of concentration in children, he said.

Obstructive sleep apnoea, or the cessation of breathing in sleep, is characterized by repetitive pauses in breathing during sleep due to the obstruction or collapse of the upper airway. Symptoms include frequent snoring, excessive daytime fatigue, grogginess, dullness, morning headaches and severe dryness of the mouth.

Factors that contribute to the condition include obesity or excessive weight gain, high blood pressure, alcohol and smoking.

(China Daily Hong Kong Edition April 1, 2005)