Insufficient sleep linked to expanding waistlines

Adults who have poor sleep patterns are more likely to be overweight or obese, study results show.

Analysis undertaken by researchers at the University of Leeds has found that people who sleep an average of six hours a night had a waist measurement that was 3cm greater than individuals who were getting nine hours of sleep a night - and shorter sleepers were heavier too.

"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," said senior author Dr. Laura Hardie. "How much sleep we need differs between people, but the current consensus is that seven to nine hours is best for most adults."