Good sleep makes you lose weight

Scientists have found that you can double your chances of reaching your target weight if you get between six and eight hours sleep a night.

If you have any more, you will become too inactive and if you have any less your stress levels will increase along with cravings for unhealthy food.

The research in Portland, USA, by Kaiser Permanente, a health care consortium, found that people trying to lose at least 10lb were more likely to reach their goal if they had lower stress levels and slept moderately, Telegraph.co.uk reports.

Traditionally, weight loss focused on diet and exercise changes. Now researchers are testing how factors like sleep, stress and depression that are tied to obesity also relate to weight loss.

"Some people may just need to cut back on their schedules and get to bed earlier. Others may find that exercise can reduce stress and help them sleep. For some people, mind/body techniques such as meditation also might be helpful," said the study's lead author, Dr. Charles Elder, an investigator with the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland, Ore., according to CBC.ca.