Sleep off the kilos

Women who don’t get a good night’s sleep reach for fattier foods during the day, Monash University researchers have found. The study assessed the sleeping behaviours and food choices of more than 7000 women aged 31 to 36. Women who slept around six hours a night took in more daily kilojoules from fat and saturated fat. The study also linked sleeping problems with a heavier weight and worse mental and physical health. “Lack of sleep can lead to poorer dietary choices in women of childbearing age,” says Dr Michelle Blumfield, who led the research team.