If you need a lie-in at weekends to make up for lack of sleep in the week, you may be at risk of developing specific types of illness a study suggests.
The sleeping habits of 522 people found those losing sleep on weekdays were more likely to develop particular conditions.
The findings, shown at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, suggested increasing sleep could help patients.
Experts said the findings were interesting and called for the idea to be tested in large trials.
Studies have already shown that shift work can rapidly change the overall health of normally healthy people. The action of throwing the body clock out of sync is thought to disrupt the natural rhythm of hormones in the body, leading to a host of health problems. But the pressures of work and social lives mean many people cut their sleep during the week and catch up at the weekend. Researchers are investigating whether there is a health impact.
By James Gallagher, Health editor, BBC News website, San Diego
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