Buckle up, night owl, it's time for a harsh reality with a bizarre twist. Your late-night web surfing marathons might be the sneaky culprit behind your not so 'fit' figure. What's the plot twist, you ask? The answer isn't a hip new diet or soul-sucking workout routine, it's simply sleep.

A fascinating study from 2006, showcased at the American Thoracic Society International Conference, delivered a refreshing wake-up call. The 16-year-long study monitored the weight and sleep routines of nearly 70,000 middle-aged women. The shocking revelation? Women who slept for 5 hours or less a night were more likely to be heavier than those who slept 7 hours per night.

According to the study, if your nightly beauty sleep is cut short by just two hours, you're a strong contender for major weight gain. Let's break down this harsh truth. Women who slept 5 hours per night were 32% more likely to experience significant weight gain (an increase of 33 pounds or more). The saga isn't over for the ones who dared to sleep just an hour extra. Women who slept 6 hours per night were still 12% more likely to experience that significant weight gain, and 6% more likely to become obese, compared to women catching that lovely 7-hour golden slumber.

Not to jolt you further, but at the start of the research, these sleep-deprived night birds clocked in at an average of 5.4 pounds more than their well-rested counterparts. It gets hairier. Over the next decade, they piled on an additional 1.6 pounds more than women who clocked in the ideal hours. Doesn't sound like much, right? Guess again. That's 16 pounds in 10 years, and 32 pounds over 20 years.

Now, you might think, is this because night owls end up raiding the fridge more often? Interestingly, no. In fact, they eat less. The researchers failed to find any correlation between diet, exercise habits and the increased weight. Nor could they pinpoint the specific factors contributing to this sleep-deprived weight gain.

One possible theory lies with our good friend cortisol. Lack of sleep can cause a spike in this stress hormone that can stimulate hunger. Another contender in this weighty quest could be a drop in your basal metabolic rate (the number of calories you burn when you rest). Maybe insufficient sleep simply makes you less inclined to even so much as fidget around, burning fewer calories.

The final verdict? If you're looking to drop those pounds, consider catching some more Z's along with sticking to your healthy diet and regular exercise. Sounds like a dream, doesn't it?