Is a nap a secret weapon for improving health? This issue has sparked conflicting opinions among scientists for decades, but one thing is certain: a midday nap affects the body's functioning, Euronews reveals.

In a recent study published in the scientific journal Obesity, a team of Spanish scientists investigated the issue of naps. Their findings shed new light on the relationship between the length and location of naps and several metabolic markers, including obesity.

The study was conducted on more than 3,000 Spaniards from Murcia.

Those who took long naps — more than 30 minutes — had a body mass index — a measure of body weight relative to height — that was 2% higher than those who didn't nap.

They also had a 23% higher risk of obesity and a 40% higher risk of metabolic syndrome, a group of medical conditions that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

On the other hand, people who took short naps – less than 30 minutes – were 21% less likely to develop high blood pressure.

“Long naps are associated with increased body mass index, metabolic syndrome, triglycerides, glucose, and blood pressure,” says Marta Garolet, study author and professor of physiology at the University of Murcia in Spain.

“On the other hand, when the nap is short, we see that it is associated with a lower risk of developing high blood pressure, so, in a way, napping becomes protective.”

the study Garolet concluded that nap duration should be considered “relevant to obesity,” but the results suggest only “associations,” not formal cause and effect.

In other words, the researchers found “relevant” associations between people who, for example, take long naps and being more likely to be obese, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that these people are overweight because they take long naps. They also don’t nap long because of their weight.