A new survey has revealed that a good night's sleep will not only leave you feeling well-rested but also help you lose weight effectively.
Around seven and a half hours of sleep a night is adequate for an adult. It is also preferable to have a consistent sleep and wake up time.
The survey was conducted by sports nutrition company Forza Supplements who surveyed around 1,000 people across the UK.
People aged between 18 and 65 who were trying to lose weight were asked about their sleeping habits.
The survey showed some clear differences between those participants who slept well and those who had erratic sleeping patterns.
The survey included how sleep affected the eating habits and dieting success of good sleepers, who were seen to shed weight more easily.
74% of participants that slept for seven and a half to eight hours every night said that they didn't struggle to stick to a diet or lose weight. And following a consistent eating pattern helps people lose weight.
People with erratic sleeping patterns are more likely to snack and also have chaotic eating patterns.
Poor sleepers are more likely to snack between meals and end up cheating on their diets than those who get enough sleep.
The survey found those who slept for less than seven hours each night were about four times likelier to snack between meals (64% of participants) than those who were well-rested (17% of participants).
54% of poor-sleepers also drank more alcohol compared to only 13% of participants who slept well.
Sleep affects our ability to curb cravings and stick to a diet plan. 72% of those that got enough sleep found that they could stick to a diet plan, compared to just 42% of poor-sleepers.
The survey also found that sleeping at 10.10 pm helped improve sleep quality and help curb sugar cravings the next day.
Lee Smith, managing director of Forza Supplements, said to Business Insider, "This new research shows that the key to successful dieting is discipline and routine - you need to adopt good habits and stick with them.
"If you are sleeping erratically and getting up in the night, chances [are you're] visiting the fridge while successful dieters are upstairs in bed fast asleep."
One-third of poor sleepers believe that they ended up putting on weight as they were awake longer and had more time to eat.
Our sleep patterns have changed radically over the last hundred years as previously there weren't any night-time distractions like pubs or clubs.
