We could be putting on weight because we have too much stress in our lives and not enough sleep. It happens to many of us - we're running around at a hundred miles an hour, juggling far too many balls in the air. One problem after another seems to need sorting, and tension rises. So we comfort ourselves with food.

But now it seems there's a scientific reason why we reach for the most fattening foods at times high stress and exhaustion. This is the thinking behind weight gain that is stress related: When the human body undergoes enduring tension, it exudes the stress-hormone cortisol.

This stimulates insulin release, as an attempt to stabilise our blood-sugar. This insulin release makes us feel hungry- particularly for carbohydrate and fat-rich foods. And so we give in to our cravings, and our energy picks up again.

Momentarily, we benefit from a lowering of stress, and we're satisfied. Although within the merest hint of time the high has gone. This is due to the insulin taking the glucose from the blood, and storing it in fatty parts of the body such as the waist and thighs.

Therefore we should aim to simplify our lives first if we're planning a weight loss program. Weight loss might also be related to getting enough sleep. In the past, people tended to sleep for a third of every 24 hours. It's now considerably less than that.

Alongside this, is the fact that weight problems have increased. One theory is this is due to hormones. If we're not sleeping for long enough, we develop an appetite for more food. This is because our body thinks it must be daytime when we're awake, so it's time to eat.

Patently we have a more urgent need for energy as we become drained, so yet again we desire saturated fats and carbs. Taking back that extra hour for night-time recuperation may well lead to eating fewer calories.

In conclusion - a simpler life could be just the spur our weight loss program needs. Remember everything doesn't have to be done yesterday! And then at the close of the day, instead of grabbing another bite to eat, simply play some relaxing music and snuggle up in bed…