A study has found adults who have poor sleep patterns are more likely to be overweight and obese.

Those who sleep six hours a night on average were found to have a waist measurement three centimetres bigger than those who get nine hours per night.

They also weighed more on average, according to researchers from the University of Leeds.

But despite the fact shorter sleepers were heavier, their diet wasn't found to be any less healthy than those who got a good amount of shut-eye.