Study Shows Sleeping With The TV On Could Lead To Weight Gain In Women

No more late-night binging, ladies! But if you need your Netflix, wear those blue light glasses.

In a 2019 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, scientists uncovered the link between sleeping with artificial light and weight gain. The research focused on women and suggested that keeping the lights on at bedtime might raise the risk of developing obesity.

The researchers gathered data from over 43,000 women aged 35-74 through the Sister Study, which examined risk factors for diseases like breast cancer. None of the female participants had a history of cancer or heart issues, and none of them were shift workers or pregnant at the time of the study. Researchers also asked the women about their sleeping environments. Did they sleep in total darkness, use a small nightlight, or have light from outside or a TV in their room?

Interestingly, the results showed that while a small nightlight didn’t cause any noticeable issues, women who slept with a TV or larger light on were 17% more likely to gain at least 11 pounds over five years. Light from outside, like street lamps, had a smaller but still notable impact. Even though the researchers considered other factors like diet and activity levels, the presence of artificial light at night remained a clear link to weight gain.

Dr. Dale Sandler, one of the study's authors, pointed out that artificial light itself seemed to play a role in disrupting the body’s natural rhythms, which could affect weight. A newer study published in Scientific Reports echoes these findings. Researchers found that blue light – emitted by many screens – can significantly disrupt a person’s circadian rhythm and potentially lead to weight gain and other metabolic disorders.

With obesity on the rise, Dr. Yong-Moon Park, the lead author, highlighted that addressing light exposure at night could be a simple yet powerful step for improving public health, especially for women. "Unhealthy high-calorie diet and sedentary behaviors have been the most commonly cited factors to explain the continuing rise in obesity. This study highlights the importance of artificial light at night and gives women who sleep with lights or the television on a way to improve their health," Dr. Park said.

While diet and exercise are still major factors, turning off that TV before bed might be a surprisingly effective way to keep weight in check. In an ideal world, we would limit exposure to blue light as much as possible.

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