Lack of sleep can ‘hamper weight loss’

People trying to lose weight and keep it off should make sure that they get an ample amount of sleep each night, a registered dietician has claimed.

Shirley Kindrick, from Ohio State University Medical Center, said that hormonal changes occur when people are sleep-deprived, which can lead to a craving for carbohydrates.

"If you are sleep-deprived, you're probably not going to feel like exercising so you have two forces working against you – you are craving more carbohydrates … and you don't feel like exercising," said Ms Kindrick, who has a doctorate in nutritional biochemistry.

She went on to stress that it is much easier for a person to lose weight if they sleep well.

Ms Kindrick said that caffeine is one of the main contributors to poor sleep, even if it is consumed hours before bed time.

Back in September, researchers at Northwestern University found that aerobic exercise can help those suffering from insomnia.

Would you be able to cut out caffeine if it helped you to lose weight?