My mom says if you stay up all night and don't get any rest you can stunt your growth. Is this true? – Damien It could be. A single night of no sleep will not stunt growth. But over the long term, a person's growth may be affected by not getting the full amount of sleep. That's because growth hormone is normally released during sleep. If someone consistently gets too little sleep (known as "sleep deprivation"), growth hormone is suppressed. Lack of sleep also can affect other hormones. Studies show that sleep deprivation is linked to obesity and diabetes. Experts are looking into whether this link has to do with hormonal changes. So in this case your mom may be right. Getting enough sleep also will help you focus better in school and give you more energy and better concentration for sports and other activities. *Names have been changed to protect user privacy. Back to Articles Related Articles What Should I Do If I Can't Sleep? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More How Much Sleep Do I Need? Teens need about 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night. But you might not be getting it. Here's why - and tips for getting more shut-eye. Read More 5 Ideas for Better Sleep Insomnia can be a big problem for teens. Read our tips on getting a good night's sleep. Read More Common Sleep Problems Sleep problems can keep some teens awake at night even when they want to sleep. If that sounds like you, find out what you can do. Read More Is it OK to Sleep Less on Weekdays and More on Weekends? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.