New study finds lack of sleep can lead to weight gain

We could all do with more sleep at night.

But now science is backing up our desires.

A new study has found that if you want a healthy body, you should be getting seven to nine hours sleep every day.

Anything less and you're more likely to be overweight and have poorer metabolic health, such as diabetes.

According to researchers from the University of Leed, people who sleep an average of six hours a night had a waist measurement that was three cm greater than individuals who were getting nine hours of sleep a night.

The team studied 1,615 adults, monitoring their sleep duration, diet and weight, but also blood pressure, blood cholesterol, blood sugar and thyroid function.

The results pointed out that not only do those who sleep less than seven hours a night tend to have larger waistlines, they also had lower levels of good cholesterol.

“The number of people with obesity worldwide has more than doubled since 1980,” said researcher Greg Potter.

“Obesity contributes to the development of many diseases, most notably type 2 diabetes. Understanding why people gain weight has crucial implications for public health.”

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

So if you needed an excuse to have a cheeky sleep in, look no further!