(KYTX) - We know sleep is important, in fact, our bodies demand it no matter how much we try to put it off.
But millions of people are in a battle between the pillow, the alarm and their waist line.
How often do you come into work early, stay late, stay up working on a big project?
In America, those are positive characteristics, you're a hard worker.
But the reality is, that extra work can lead to extra pounds.
And it's something many people are struggling with between work, home and families in an ever growing 24-hour society.
From work in the morning, to taking care of her family in the afternoon, Kelli Wuerffel is like most Americans, she's losing sleep.
"I'd say about 6 hours," says Wuerffel about how much she sleeps.
That's most nights.
"Typically my goal is to be in bed by 10 knowing I'll be up by 6 and possibly be woken up by myself, my daughter or some noise 2-3 times in the night," says Wuerffel.
Add to that the fact that Kelli's pregnant and will be moving soon, for her husband's new job.
"I wake up in the middle of the night, I'm hungry, I want to grab something easy or junk food. When I'm tired, I want to eat junk food and if there's ice cream, I'll eat it," says Wuerffel.
A few months ago, Kelli was holding down two jobs.
"I'm irritated sometimes because I am rushed or groggy, so I'm not going to be as efficient. I'm going to be short with my staff," says Wuerffel.
If you're fighting the alarm, getting hours less sleep than you should, or less than normal, you're messing with your internal clock. You could be putting yourself at risk for more than a bad mood before your feet hit the floor.
"The chance of obesity is increased several hundred fold," says Dr. R. V. Ghuge with the Trinity Mother Frances Sleep Center.
Dr. Ghuge says the average total sleep time of Americans has gone down significantly.
It was 8 hours in the 60s, 7 by the time we hit the 80s and now, it's just 5 3/4 hours a night.
"When you get down under 6 1/2 hours you produce excessive lepton, which causes carb cravings and suppresses metabolism. Causes central obesity and insulin resistance," says Dr. Ghuge.
Which means you're more apt to eat junk food, and more likely to have headaches, find yourself with diabetes, and a higher chance of stroke.
And the sleep deficit doesn't have to be self imposed, snoring, sleep apnea, sleep walking and insomnia, there are more than 80 different kinds of sleep disorders.
Dr. Ghuge tests for those at the sleep clinic.
"The healing process requires sleep, rest. Helps the brain, neurological system, cardiac system," says Dr. Ghuge.
Leaving Kelli hoping for a little more time to focus on the important things, so she's not forced into unhealthy patterns.
"Sometimes if I keep going and don't stop, I've realized I can get through the end of the day and fall in bed at nigh," says Wuerffel.
Lack of sleep goes beyond the scale, it can lead to increased hyperactivity in children, depression, psychiatric abnormalities, even decreased libido.
So if you're not resting up and recharging your batteries every night, it can be about more than just your pants size, it can lead to illness.
Many doctors say the magic number to sleep, without losing focus and to keep from gaining weight, is 6 1/2 hours a night.
There are also many studies that show children are just as susceptible to the same problems from lack of sleep.
