People who sleep fewer than six hours a night ‘tend to have an extra inch round their waists’
The new study found that people who slept less than six hours a night had an extra 3cm around their waist
PEOPLE who sleep fewer than six hours a night tend to have an extra inch round their waists, researchers say.
A study of 1,615 adults found poor sleepers were on average also heavier than those who got the recommended seven to nine hours.
Shorter dozes were linked to reduced blood levels of high density lipoprotein — the form of cholesterol that helps keep arteries healthy.
Lead researcher Dr Laura Hardie, from the Univesity of Leeds, said: "Because we found that adults who reported sleeping less than their peers were more likely to be overweight or obese, our findings highlight the importance of getting enough sleep.
"How much sleep we need differs between people, but the current consensus is that seven to nine hours is best for most adults."
Research had previously suggested that lack of sleep can stimulate a desire for junk food.
This new study has not found any relationship between less sleep and a less healthy diet.