Neu-Isenburg, Germany People who sleep for short periods are fatter than long sleepers, according to an article published in the German medical journal Aertzte Zeitung. Based on the finding of a US study, women who slept between five and six hours gained on average of between 0.7 and 1.1 kilos in weight compared to women who spent seven or more hours in bed.
The figures were compiled by Cleveland-based Doctor Sanjay R Patel using data gathered by the Nurses Health Study.
The study looked at 70,000 women over the age of 16 and asked them questions about their calorie consumption and sleeping habits.
The study also showed that short sleepers are 15 per cent more likely to be obese than people who sleep a lot.
An explanation given for the findings was that disturbance to the body's day-night rhythm hindered the burn-up of calories.
