The latest research has suggested that the secret to losing weight may be as simple and pleasurable as a good night’s sleep.

Scientists at the European Centre of Taste Science found that people who had eight hours of sleep at night ate less than those who had four hours of sleep a night. Feeling tired increased appetite and made people want to eat less healthily than those who woke feeling refreshed and energetic. It sounds too good to be true, but it really does seem that it might be possible to boost weight loss by getting a good night’s sleep.

 

Another study from Maastrict University in Holland found that people who slept for less during their teenage years than they did as children gained more weight than those whose sleep patterns did not change when they got older.

People who sleep less than six hours a night are at greater risk of blood sugar problems that can lead to diabetes, according to research presented by scientists at the University of Buffalo in New York. They found that those who lose sleep during the working week are five times more likely to develop blood sugar problems.

It’s thought that hormonal changes caused by too much or too little sleep can affect the body’s metabolism and appetite control. The study found that those sleeping fewer than six hours a night from Sunday to Thursday over six years were 4.5 times more likely to develop the blood sugar abnormality known as impaired fasting glucose compared to those sleeping between six and eight hours. The condition – which is often called pre-diabetes – is caused by the body not producing enough insulin causing blood sugar levels to rise above normal in the morning. The findings could not be explained by genes and scientists believe they are most likely due to lack of sleep.

 

Around a third of British adults regularly sleep for five hours or less a night. The healthiest amount of sleep, according to researchers, is seven hours a night.

Tai Chi could be the answer. Researchers at UCLA (USA) analysed the sleep quality of adults aged from 59 to 86 who were suffering with sleep problems, and gave them a programme of tai chi chih – a westernised version of the ancient Chinese practise. After 25 weeks 63% of this group experienced a significant improvement in sleep quality.