A study out of Hong Kong has found that people who work long hours and do not get adequate sleep are more prone to obesity. The study, published in the International Journal of Obesity, looked at nearly 4,800 people living in Hong Kong and compared their body mass index with the number of hours they worked and slept each day.

The study found that individuals, in particular men, who worked more than nine hours per day and slept less than six had the greatest body mass indexes and waist sizes. In comparison, larger waist sizes on women were associated with high blood pressure, alcohol consumption and smoking.

These results should be eye opening to employers and governments, but they aren't surprising. It is well-known that longer work hours and a lack of sleep causes stress and stress is directly linked to weight gain and obesity. In France, the government is currently considering a plan to allow employees to take naps at work. Allowing workers to get more sleep helps to lower stress levels, heighten alertness and increase productivity. And we all wonder how the French stay so thin. Maybe they are on to something.