Sleeping with a television or light on in the room may be a risk factor for gaining weight or developing obesity, according to NIEHS scientists. The research, published online June 10 in JAMA Internal Medicine, is the first to find an association between any exposure to artificial light at night while sleeping and weight gain in women.

Sandler also heads the NIEHS Chronic Disease Epidemiology Group. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Results varied with the level exposure to artificial light at night, suggesting that cutting off lights at bedtime could reduce women’s chances of becoming obese. For example, using a small nightlight was not associated with weight gain, whereas women who slept with a light or television on were 17% more likely to have gained 5 kilograms, approximately 11 pounds, or more during the follow-up period. The association with light coming from outside the room was more modest.

Lack of sleep?

The scientists wondered if not getting enough rest factored into the findings.

'Although poor sleep by itself was associated with obesity and weight gain, it did not explain the associations between exposure to artificial light while sleeping and weight,' said corresponding author Dale Sandler, Ph.D., head of the NIEHS Epidemiology Branch.

Co-author Chandra Jackson, Ph.D., head of the NIEHS Social and Environmental Determinants of Health Equity Group, is interested in racial disparities in sleep health. She noted that for many who live in urban environments, light at night is more common and should be considered a factor in obesity. Streetlights, storefront neon signs, and other light sources can suppress the sleep hormone melatonin and the natural 24-hour light-dark cycle of circadian rhythms.

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

Confounding factors

As a physician-scientist, Park applied his expertise to this important public health study. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

The authors acknowledged that other confounding factors could explain the associations between artificial light at night and weight gain. However, their findings did not change when analyses controlled for characteristics that might be associated with both exposure to light at night and weight gain. These factors included age, having an older spouse or children in the home, race, socioeconomic status, residential location, calories consumed, nighttime snacking, and physical activity, as well as other sleep characteristics. Also, the study did not include men.

Lead author Yong-Moon (Mark) Park, M.D., Ph.D., is a postdoctoral fellow in Sandler’s group. He said the research suggests a viable public health strategy to reduce obesity incidence in women.

'Unhealthy high-calorie diet and sedentary behaviors have been the most commonly cited factors to explain the continuing rise in obesity,' Park said. '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.'

How data were gathered

The research team used questionnaire data from 43,722 women in the Sister Study, a long-term study that examines risk factors for breast cancer and other diseases. The participants, aged 35-74 years, had no history of cancer or cardiovascular disease, and were not shift workers, daytime sleepers, or pregnant when the study began. The questionnaire asked whether the women slept with no light, a small nightlight, light outside of the room, or a light or television on in the room.

The results suggest that cutting off lights at bedtime could reduce women’s chances of becoming obese.

The scientists used weight, height, waist and hip circumference, and body mass index measurements taken at enrollment, as well as self-reported information on weight at enrollment and five years later. Using this information, the scientists were able to compare obesity and weight gain in women exposed to artificial light at night with women who reported sleeping in dark rooms.

Citation: Park YM, White AJ, Jackson CL, Weinberg CR, Sandler DP. 2019. Association of exposure to artificial light at night while sleeping with risk of obesity in women. JAMA Intern Med; doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.0571 [Online 10 June 2019].