It is not difficult for most people to understand the importance of a good night’s sleep to awaken refreshed and ready to take on the challenges of a new day. Less known is the scientific evidence that explains how poor sleep habits are the root cause behind the development of many chronic diseases, in a similar fashion to smoking or eating a nutritionally depleted diet. A growing body of research studies over the past five to ten years has implicated insufficient and poor quality sleep with increased risk for overweight and obesity, cancer and cognitive decline.