Catching up on lost sleep over the weekends may help people keep their weight down, according to a study in South Korea.
Not getting enough sleep can disrupt hormones and metabolism and is known to increase the risk of obesity, researchers write in the journal Sleep.
"Short sleep, usually causing sleep debt, is common and inevitable in many cases, and is a risk factor for obesity, hypertension, coronary heart disease, as well as mortality," said lead author Yun Chang Ho, of the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital.
Sleeping in may be better than napping, as the sleep may be deeper and follows the body's sleep-wake rhythms more closely, Dr Yun said.
- REUTERS