Excess sweets and lack of exercise aren't the only culprits behind weight gain—sleeping with lights on can also tip the scales, according to recent research.
American scientists analyzed data from 44,000 women aged 35 to 74, finding that exposure to artificial light at night raises the risk of overweight and obesity, as reported by Nieuwsblad.be. Of the participants, 17,000 slept with a nightlight, 13,000 left a light on elsewhere in the house, and 5,000 kept the TV on.
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Women who slept with lights or TV on were 22% more likely to be overweight and 33% more likely to be obese compared to those sleeping in complete darkness, without even clock radio glow. The light-exposed group gained an average of 5 kilos, with BMI rising by 10%.
The exact mechanism remains under investigation, but lead researcher Yong-Moon Park states: "Turning off the lights reduces obesity risk in women. These findings held for both short sleepers (under 7 hours) and those getting 7-9 hours."
Pro tip: Switch off all lights before bed to safeguard your weight and health.
