The ‘perfect’ amount is usually recognised to be 7-8 hours a night.

But don’t stray too far either side.

Professor Manos Stamatakis, from the Charles Perkins centre at the University of Sydney, said staying in bed too long – or not long enough – often led to poor health and ultimately an earlier death.

‘Too little or too much both seem to have an adverse effect on health,’ he said.

‘That’s what we found in the study.’

Click PLAY below to hear the Professor explain more.