Sleeping In Might Be Making You Sick

Think sleeping in is the best part of the weekend? Think again. Shape reports that, according to a new study in the journal Obesity, those mornings hitting snooze have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, cancer, and early death. Yikes. The longer you sleep in, the higher your risk becomes, the researchers found — but even two hours (say, waking up at 9 a.m. on the weekends when you normally rise at 7 a.m. on a workday) is enough to be a health hazard. Related: This Might Be The Unexpected Cure To Back Pain The researchers speculate that the problem could be "social jet lag," which Shape defines as "the difference in your sleeping patterns between days you work and wake up with an alarm and days you have off and sleep according to your natural clock." The researchers believe social jet lag on the weekends could interrupt healthy habits like diet and exercise. Related: Which Is Healthier: Optimism Or Pessimism? Till Roenneberg, author of a similar study done in Germany and professor at the University of Munich, recommends keeping your sleep schedule as close to your body’s natural clock as possible, seven days per week, to avoid sleep deprivation. Click through to Shape for more information about this study. (Shape) Related: Here Are The Best Ways To Relieve Sore Muscles