Tess Daly’s tip for a ‘restful sleep’ dismissed as ‘frankly bonkers’ by expert, who warnst that it could be dangerous

Previously in The Sun, experts explained how sleep is closely linked with weight.

Disrupts hunger hormones

Ghrelin is a hormone released after the brain signals the stomach is empty, while leptin is released from fat cells to suppress hunger - and tell the brain it's full.

Studies have shown that when you don't get enough shut-eye, the body makes more ghrelin and less leptin - leaving you more hungry.

One study of 12 men led by University of Chicago showed two days of sleep deprivation drove leptin levels in the blood down by 18 per cent, while increasing ghrelin by 28 per cent. 

The men reported a 24 per cent increase in their hunger and appetite compared to when they were given two restful nights.

More time to eat

The less you are asleep, the more you are awake. This gives more of an opportunity to eat.

In the modern day world, people are awake for up to 17 hours at a time - 7am till 12pm. It leaves a huge window for being awake and eating.

If you're struggling with both your weight and sleep, try finishing your meals three to four hours before bed time. That might mean limiting your eating window from 9am until 6pm.

Reach for takeaways

If you have a weird sleeping pattern, chances are your eating schedule is also off-whack.

Struggling to sleep can see us turn to convenience - takeaways, ready meals, oven foods and more, whi;e being energised gives us more motivation to cook healthily.

Eat more calories than normal

Studies suggest that the less sleep you get, the more calorie-dense food you choose to eat.

One study in Chicago found that men ate more food at a buffet after four consecutive night’s of rough sleep compared with when they were rested.

They consumed around 340 calories more, mostly because they ate more snacks and carbohydrate-rich food.

Researchers from King’s College London also found that adults consumed an additional 385 calories – the equivalent of one and a half Mars Bars – on days after they were deprived of kip by combining the results of 11 previous studies.

More desire for food

Foods, especially those high in calories, are more appetising when we are sleep deprived because we subconsciously know they will boost our energy.

A German study showed the lengths sleepy people would go to for calorific snacks using 32 healthy men.

After a normal dinner and either a restful or restless night’s sleep, the men were given three Euros to spend on snacks and told to bid the maximum amount they were willing to spend on each item. 

When sleep deprived. participants were willing to pay extra for the junk food items - which they were allowed to eat afterwards - suggesting a stronger desire.

Fat storage more likely

Scientists have warned that not getting enough sleep changes how the body deals with food, which could then lead to weight gain. 

One study showed that men who ate a large bowl of chilli mac and cheese after four nights of bad sleep reacted differently to the food than those who were well-rested.

Researchers at Pennsylvania State University said blood tests showed lipids (fats) from foods were cleared faster, suggesting they were being stored almost instantly. 

The process did not spring back to its normal rate even after the men were given a long night’s sleep.