Brits 'not as sleep deprived as they think'

Britons may not be as sleep deprived as they think, if new claims by a scientist are to be believed.

According to Professor Jim Horne, sleep deprivation is a myth and people's genes determine how alert they feel during the day, rather than how much rest they get.

He also suggests that the idea of sleep deprivation contributing to obesity and diabetes is exaggerated.

Despite many studies concluding that healthy adults need to sleep for seven to eight hours a night, Professor Horne believes the nation should not worry about how much rest it is getting.

'My assertion is that the vast majority of people sleep perfectly adequately. That's not to say that sleep deprivation doesn't exist. But in general we've never had it so good," he said.

According to about.com, there is a link between diabetes and sleep deprivation as a study discovered that people who slept less than 6.5 hours a night had greater insulin resistance, which can lead to the disease.

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