While it may be a constant struggle to get your preschooler to bed at a decent hour, research shows the exhaustive fight is worth it. A new study published in The Journal of Pediatrics found that preschoolers who hit the hay by 8 p.m. have a lower risk of obesity as teenagers than those who stay up later.

Federal statistics show that 17 percent of American children between the ages of 2 and 19 are obese and at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The childhood obesity rate has more than doubled in the past 30 years, which some experts blame on easy access to junk food and too little exercise. The new study also shows sleep patterns play a big role in childhood obesity.

During the study, researchers from The Ohio State University analyzed data from nearly 1,000 children who were part of a larger study, which followed healthy children who were born in 1991.

The team looked at three different bedtime categories: before 8 p.m., between 8 and 9 p.m. and after 9 p.m. All of the children were ages 4 to 5 when the mothers reported the bedtimes. The researchers then compared bedtime information with weight data once the children were 15 years old.

The findings showed that of the children who went to sleep before 8 p.m. on a regular basis, only 10 percent were obese as teenagers, compared with 16 percent of those who went to sleep between 8 and 9 p.m. and 23 percent who went to sleep after 9 p.m.

The researchers concluded that the results emphasize the importance of a routine bedtime. Experts say bedtime routines increase the likelihood of your child getting the recommended amount of sleep each day, which will also help them focus better in school and live a healthier life.