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This Common Bedtime Habit Is Making You Gain Weight

Guilty as charged. - by Lucy Bode
  • 12 Jun 2019

Sometimes, the only fix for a long, hard work week is many hours of Netflix in bed - preferably, until you fall asleep. But if this study is anything to go by, you might wanna rethink your Friday plans, folks.

Researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences have just linked snoozing while exposed to artificial light with weight gain.

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RELATED: 5 Surprising Conditions That Can Make You Gain Weight

Their findings were based off a questionnaire filled out by 43,722 American women over a five-year period. The participants were asked to self-report any fluctuations in their weight, height, waist/hip circumference and BMI over the span of the study.

Interestingly, those who slept with the lights or TV on in the bedroom were up to 17 per cent more likely to gain 5kgs or more. A small night light or light coming in from outside, however, wasn’t found to have an effect.

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RELATED: This Is The Best Time Of Day To Eat Carbs If You're Looking To Lose Weight

The study’s co-author Dr Chandra Jackson puts this down to our circadian rhythm or body clock.

“Humans are genetically adapted to a natural environment consisting of sunlight during the day and darkness at night,” she explained. “Exposure to artificial light at night may alter hormones and other biological processes in ways that raise the risk of health conditions like obesity.”

Our appetite may also be to blame: disrupted shut eye decreases our levels of leptin - a hormone that suppresses satiety and makes us hungrier during the day. Plus, poor sleep – even just for a night – can mess with our blood sugar and metabolism. 

The takeaway? Switch everything off before bed – no exceptions. Your sleep quality (and waistline) will reap the rewards.

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RELATED: The Unexpected Side Effect Late-Night Snacking Has On Your Skin

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Lucy Bode
Lucy Bode
Lucy is Women Health’s digital editor, social media specialist and the go-to girl for all things holistic wellness. Her background as a journalist and passion for food, fitness and integrative medicine has led her to write for some of Australia’s leading publications over the course of her career.

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