According to the study, published in the scientific journal "Opositi", a group of Spanish scientists researched naps, and the results highlighted the relationship between its duration and many metabolic markers including obesity.

The study found that those who took long naps for more than 30 minutes had a 2 percent higher BMI than others.

They also have a 23 percent higher risk of obesity and a 40 percent higher risk of metabolic syndrome, a group of medical conditions that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

On the other hand, people who take short naps for short periods of less than 30 minutes have a 21 percent lower risk of high blood pressure.

Comments Marta Garaulet, author of the study, Professor of Physiology at the University of Murcia, Spain:

• "Long naps are associated with an increase in body mass index, triglycerides, glucose and blood pressure."
• "In contrast, when naps are short, we see that they are associated with a lower risk of developing high blood pressure, so naps become protective in some way."
• In line with the findings of the study linking obesity to long naps, Garaulet recently published another study that concluded that people who take long naps are more likely to change the rhythm of an enzyme called lipase, which plays a crucial role in fat digestion.
• She said understanding the napping mechanism and its consequences can help recommend new methodologies to improve employee performance.

Better memory

Previous studies have found that short naps are associated with improved memory, as well as improved performance and alertness at work, but more research is needed to resolve the matter and provide naps as advice at work.

Modern lifestyles have greatly influenced the frequency, duration, and timing of sleep episodes, and while napping research may not provide conclusive evidence, there is an overwhelming amount of scientific literature supporting the idea that nothing is more important to our health and productivity than a good night's sleep.