NIGHT LIGHTS CAUSE WEIGHT GAIN

(May, 2015) Scientists from Leiden University believe that light at night, including street light coming through the curtains and the glow of smartphones, is causing us to gain weight. In experiments on mice, they showed that animals exposed to light 24-hours a day for five weeks put on 50 per cent more fat than creatures who kept more normal hours. This was despite all the animals eating the same amount of food and doing the same amount of exercise. Tests showed that constant light disrupted their body clock and slowed down a vital calorie-burning process. A previous study by the same team from Leiden University showed that animals kept in constant light put on weight more quickly than creatures fed fatty food. Researcher Patrick Rensen, Leiden University Medical Center, said he believes his findings have relevance to people who are battling the bulge. He said “I think it would be really helpful to maintain the biological rhythms as much as possible, by at least sleeping in a darkened bedroom.” Even something as simple as checking a mobile phone for messages on waking during the night could stop the body clock from resetting properly in the morning and lead to weight gain.
* Where did they find mice who use smartphones?
* Let’s be honest. The only light that really causes weight gain is the refrigerator light.
* Great. So now we need snack food that glows in the dark.
* The good news: Dieting and exercise made no difference, so we can all relax and do what we want.