Sleep is an essential component for maintaining health . Sleep in children is also vital for growth and development . Ongoing insomnia has been associated with an increased risk for certain chronic health problems . In addition , insomnia has been shown to both increase susceptibility to diseases and correlate with prolongation of recovery times . One study found that people with chronic sleep deprivation who slept six hours or less a night were four times more likely to catch a cold than those who reported getting seven hours or more a night . Sleep has an important role in regulating human metabolism , and insomnia can lead to weight loss or make it difficult to lose weight .