Not getting enough sleep can not only make us feel irritable and look a bit peaky, but apparently it can also make us fat.
New research from King's College London has found that people who don't get enough shut eye end up eating up to 385 more calories a day compared to those getting more than seven hours sleep.
In their findings, published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the team warned that taking on extra calories will soon result in significant weight gain.
To reach their conclusion, scientists analysed 11 previous studies, which had a total of 172 participants.
As well as the extra calories, it was also found those that had less sleep, and therefore were awake longer, didn't do any more exercise during their time awake.
The diets between good sleepers and the sleep deprived varied, with those missing out on vital sleeping hours tending to eat diets higher in fat and lower in protein.
"If long-term sleep deprivation continues to result in an increased calorie intake of this magnitude, it may contribute to weight gain," researcher Dr. Gerda Pot said. "The main cause of obesity is an imbalance between calorie intake and expenditure, and this study adds to accumulating evidence that sleep deprivation could contribute to this imbalance.
"Reduced sleep is one of the most common and potentially modifiable health risks in today's society in which chronic sleep loss is becoming more common."
The teams speculated that lack of sleep affects the body's hormones, which leaves people needing to eat more to feel full.
The NHS recommends adults should be getting eight hours sleep each night.
© Cover Media
