Toss and turn all night? Deep sleeper? Light sleeper? 6 hours a night? 8 hours? If you are struggling with your weight or watching your calories, maybe you should take a look at the amount of sleep you get each night. A new study claims that women’s sleep habits can predict weight gain.

68,183 healthy women took part in the Nurses' Health Study, which started in 1976, when the women were 30-55 years old. The women reported how much sleep they usually got per night and their weight every two years for the next 16 years.

Women who reported sleeping five or six hours per night gained more weight (around 2.3 pounds) than those who got seven hours of nightly sleep, the study shows. Researchers adjusted for factors including the women's age, BMI (body mass index) in 1986, physical activity, and dietary behaviors.

So the less sleep you get, the more pounds you can potentially pack on. Ladies- don’t skimp on sleep! Treat yourself to 8 hours sleep each night and maybe then you can feel better about sneaking that piece of chocolate every now and then.