why animals are gaining weight, too

If you’re even thinking of losing weight this year, you need to read this. Based on very recent research, the old “formula” of calories in vs. calories burned  - once again - doesn’t work.

Here’s why: Researchers noticed that animals are growing larger – both wild animals, domesticated animals (pets), and laboratory animals. With certainty the researchers knew that the animals weren’t eating too many doughnuts, and they certainly weren’t guilty of missing their exercise sessions. But they were sure getting larger than ever before. The researchers were stumped. Was there something in the environment that was causing this? Could it be air pollution, toxic chemicals, or something else? Another possibility was light pollution. The animals daily circadian rhythms could be being disrupted by the amount of light they were exposed to at night – when they were sleeping.

Another set of researchers did a rather simple experiment. One group of lab animals slept with all lights out and another group slept with “light” pollution. Guess who gained weight? Right, the ones who experienced “light” pollution. The details aren’t yet available on what body systems react to sleeping at night with a room with some light. But this early research offers clues for your weight management.

Make sure that you’re not gaining weight because you sleep with too much light. Get at least 8 hours of sleep in total darkness. Even the light from a street lamp may be too much, let alone the light from all sorts of media – television, alarm clocks, laptop screens, and more. Even an innocent night-light could be disrupting your weight.

At our house, I think we do pretty well but probably not well enough. I’m planning to purchase heavier window coverings to block the street-lamp lights. What can you do to eliminate light during your sleeping hours?

Happy New Year,