Good night’s sleep helps you lose weight

 Sleeping badly could be driving weight gain, scientists fear, after finding that people who slept just six hours a night had waist measurements an inch greater than those who get nine hours.

The study by the University of Leeds involved 1,615 adults who reported how long they slept and kept records of food intake. Those who slept for six hours or less a night had waists that were on average 1.1 inches (3cm) larger.

Shorter sleep was also linked to reduced levels of good cholesterol, which helps remove fat from the body and protects against heart disease.

Crucially, the study, reported in the journal PLOS ONE, did not find any relationship between shortened sleep and a less healthy diet – a fact that surprised the researchers, as other studies have suggested that shortened sleep can lead to poor dietary choices.

Dr Laura Hardie, the study’s senior investigator, added: “How much sleep we need differs between people, but the current consensus is that seven to nine hours is best for most adults.”