Do Night-Lights Make You Fat?

[LINDA RN]

Read this article in an Email this morning. Interesting concept.

Do Night-Lights Make You Fat?

Falling asleep to the glow of a muted bedroom TV or night-light is a common practice that seems benign... but it might be making you fat! Researchers at Ohio State University (Columbus) compared a group of juvenile mice that spent their eight nighttime hours in dim light (the equivalent of having a TV on in a dark room) with a group on a normal dark-night schedule. After just one week, mice from the slight-light environment had gained much more weight -- and the extra weight piled on so fast that at the end of the eight-week study the mice that had slept in dim light had gained 50% more than those kept in nighttime darkness. Glucose tolerance (related to, and a common companion of, insulin resistance) was impaired in the light-at-night group as well.

A Circadian Upset

Laura K. Fonken, a graduate research associate in the school’s department of neuroscience and psychology, filled me in on the findings, which were recently published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. She speculated that dim light at night may have disrupted the normal circadian clock in the mice, affecting the genes that prepare the body for predictable events, including eating. She said that the dim-light mice did not ingest more calories than the other mice, nor did they become less active -- the problem was a result of eating more frequently at times when they were normally inactive, when their metabolisms burned fuel less efficiently. In a second experiment, the researchers withdrew access to food during inactive periods. The mice took in the same amount of daily calories overall, and this time the mice in a dim-light group did not gain weight.

While rodents are nocturnal and humans are not, Fonken told me that light affects both species similarly, which is why the study findings have implications for us. We know, for instance, that there is a correlation between shift work and higher body mass index. It may be because their schedules make it necessary for shift workers to eat when their metabolisms are at low points. But, said Fonken, it also may be that low light at night triggers the desire to eat at off-hour times -- which would also explain people’s propensity to reach for after-dinner snacks in front of the TV or to get up during the night to eat. At present, these are merely hypotheses, she said, further research is needed.

In the meantime, for our own bedtimes, Fonken advises turning off the TV, the computer and the light in the bathroom and avoiding night-lights and lighted clock radios. A darkened room may indeed dampen the desire to eat at the wrong times, and it may come with a bonus as well -- better rest.

Source(s):

Laura K. Fonken, BS, graduate research associate, department of neuroscience and psychology, Ohio State University, Columbus.

[CodingQueen]

This is a newsletter posted by Dr. Mercola on October 28, 2010 regarding the subject.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/artic ... -gain.aspx

Studies of the use of night lights have also shown an increase in breast cancer and leukemia.

CQ

[Clown Lady]

I wish I could sleep in the dark but the outside street lights come in.  I also have step down into the living room and I keep a night light on so I won't stumble.  We always have something going against us.  But we can do it.
Clown Lady

[LINDA RN]

Time for the sleeping mask???? LOL

[VickiLynn]

CL,

I have trouble sleeping if I have the teeniest bit of light in my bedroom so to keep out the street lights, I have window shades lined with something that blocks out the light coming im my windows.  I have them inside mounted behind by curtains.  Also, just a suggestion... keep a flashlight next to your bed to use instead of the night light for getting to your living room.

[ladyhawk21]

@Clown Lady i put up shades (instead of blinds) also lined back curtains this keeps out any light including sunlight in the mornings

as far as a night light_ that must be why i am overweight i have a nightlight in the bathroom across the hall from my bedroom
but i get up 2-3 times a night and if i cant see where i am going i am liable to trip over my 100pd puppy in the middle of the floor  LOL

Renee

[MsHeirloom]

I guess that's my excuse, too, Ladyhawk- I get up at night 2-3 times and turn on the light to guide the way!  Honestly, I think there is something to this theory.  Until Thomas Edison invented the lightbulb, Humans mostly went to sleep when it got dark and got up when it was daylight.  Pam

[ladyhawk21]

hey girly girl
i am working desperately on the bodice  LOL

i cant really stand lights- i use a small lamp in the living room and it does not put out much light
work kills me as i have like 4 over head lights
when i am sewing i do like light and thats about the only time

[Eljayne]

I just look way/weigh better in the dark.....no lights at my house in the night

[MsHeirloom]

Good one, El!

[Joyful Friend]

          JF

[Karen Weeks]

My house  little light tiny bulb in bedroom, 2 in front room  2 in kitchen and a pencil tree with 100 lights on all the time.  I guess I am use to them, maybe I wounldn't eat if I couldn't find my way to kitchen LOL

[witheraway1]

This just all sounds silly to me. Can't let a little light bother me, too many other things for me to worry about!

[MsHeirloom]

Wither- You're back.  Great to see you posting.  Welcome back.  Pam

[LINDA RN]

Welcome back Whither!
I can sleep soundly at night even infront of a TV.
But DH is very sensitive of the light, and has me to hide even the time on the Microvave, alarm clock, and the computer hard drive indicator light. Guess that's why he has lost 85lbs and I have only lost 49, LOL 
The point of the article was getting enough sound sleep. I get plenty of that!

[witheraway1]

Thanks Pam I am better now, I was gone due to sickness. still loss of engery and some pain but can post again. Good to be back.
Linda, I sleep very good to the tv. But don't have a night light on except in my kitchen. So I am with you light doesn't bother me one way or the other. You have lost a lot of weight, keep it up.

[MsHeirloom]

Wither- You have lost a great deal of weight, too.  Congratulations.  I'm so glad that you are feeling better! !  Pam

[LINDA RN]

Welcome back Whither,
Glad to hear you are on the mend.
We missed you.

[witheraway1]

Thanks everybody. I can tell everyday I am better because I am getting some of my fight back. Too sick to care before. Have a good day and take care.

[Joyful Friend]

Glad you're on the mend. Missed you.   JF