New research involving a University of Southampton doctor has revealed the differences between the sexes when it comes to sleep.

A recent review, published in Sleep Medicine Reviews, studied the impact of biological sex on sleep variations, body clocks and metabolism.

The paper discovered that women tend to rate their sleep quality lower than men do.

They also reported more fluctuations in sleep quality, which aligns with changes throughout the menstrual cycle.

"Lower sleep quality is associated with anxiety and depressive disorders, which are twice as common in women as in men," said Dr Sarah L. Chellappa, senior author of the paper.

The authors found women were up to four times as likely to develop sleep-related eating disorders and had a 25 to 50 per cent higher likelihood of developing restless legs syndrome.

Meanwhile, men are three times more likely than women to have obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).

Sleep lab studies found that women sleep more than men, with around 8 minutes longer spent in non-REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep and entering REM sleep earlier.

Dr Renske Lok from Stanford University, who led the review, discovered that women's intrinsic circadian periods are shorter by around six minutes compared to men's.

The research also revealed men tend to be later chronotypes, preferring to go to bed and wake up later than women.

This can lead to a social jet lag, where social demands such as work start clashing with their body clocks.

On the metabolic impact, sleep deprivation effects were studied with brain networks playing different roles for men and women.

Despite women showing twice the brain activity in response to images of food, men were found to overeat more following sleep loss.

"As we understand more about how women and men sleep, differences in their circadian rhythms and how these affect their metabolism, we can move towards more precise and personalised healthcare which enhances the likelihood of positive outcomes," added Dr Chellappa.

The research, funded via the Alexander Von Humboldt Foundation, the US Department of Defense and the National Institute of Health, offers information for treating sleep disorders and understanding mental health conditions in relation to sex.