Binge-watching on addictive series and shows could be a person's way to relax after a long day at work. At times, people may find themselves under their blankets, half-asleep with the television playing in the background.
Aside from waste in the energy used, experts have found out another reason why leaving the television turned on while falling asleep could affect the health of a person. Preliminary research suggests that dozing off while watching late-night TV or even sleeping with the lights on may confuse a person's metabolism, which can lead to weight gain, or in some cases, obesity.
The National Institutes of Health of the United States has published the preliminary study on Monday. The study posits that excessive exposure to artificial light at night could pose health risks.
Dale Sandler, the study's lead author, a scientist from the National Institute of Environmental Health, a division of the National Institutes of Health, stated that evolutionarily, humans are supposed to be sleeping in a dark place. Sandler added that daily exposure to alternating light and darkness helps maintain a person's 24-hour body clock. This would regulate metabolism, blood pressure, sleep-promoting hormones, and many other bodily functions.
Furthermore, extended researches suggest that disrupting typical sleep-wake cycles contribute to poor health. This means that there is an increased risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and even depression.
Health and lifestyle data of nearly 44,000 US women that were enrolled in an ongoing study for causes of breast cancer were analyzed by the researchers. By isolating the data on sleep, weight gain, and light exposure, the researchers were able to come up with a conclusive analysis.
According to the data that the researchers gathered, women in the study who were reported to be sleeping at night in a room with a television that is turned on or lights that were not switched off were more likely to gain at least 11 pounds over about five years as compared to those who chose to sleep in darkness. 30% of those who gained weight were reported to likely become obese.
Sandler stated that she is confident that the said weight gain was not caused by late-night snacking, lack of physical activity and sleep duration as the research has also counted for such variables. The lead researcher also pointed out that it is likely that similar results would be found in research that focuses on men.
Dr. Phyllis Zee, from Chicago's Northwestern University and an expert in sleep and circadian rhythm disorders, stated that the study highlights the behavior that can easily be changed. She added that properly timed light should be considered as part of a healthy lifestyle. This could reduce the risk of gaining weight.
