The optimum amount of sleep each night is between 7 and 8 hours. Proper rest allows our mind and body to rejuvenate after a long day's work. Without this recharge mechanism our attention suffers and our skills lack their potential. This deprivation carries over into more aspects of your health than you might expect.
Studies show that sleep deprivation can also make it difficult to lose those last few pounds you've been aiming for. When you don't get the rest you need, your body produces more ghrelin, the hormone that makes you feel hungry, and less leptin, the hormone that makes you feel full.