Women, Sleep, And Obesity

You've probably heard that you sleep better when your room is darker, but did you also know that the darker your bedroom is, the better your chance is of losing weight?

Exposure to too much light during sleep hours seems to increases the risk of obesity, according to a study of over 100, 000 women.

Researchers discovered that the odds of women becoming obese increased in rooms that allowed in more light than others.

Researcher Anthony Swerdlow from the Institute of Cancer Research in Londonsays that while the exact link hasn't yet been located, "Metabolism is affected by cyclical rhythms within the body that relate to sleeping, waking and light exposure."

It appears that light disrupts the body's production melatonin, a sleep hormone affects mood and changes the body's processing of food. Past research has also found that people who don't sleep the full recommended eight hours of sleep end up eating higher-calorie foods than others who do get enough sleep.