(NaturalPath) A study published in PLOS One and conducted by the Queensland University of Technology’s Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation and the Centre for Children’s Health Research found a link between light exposure and kids’ weight. The researchers studied children, aged three to five years old from six Brisbane childcare centers. Over a period of two weeks, they studied their sleep, activity, and light exposure, then they followed up twelve months later.
“We found moderate intensity light exposure earlier in the day was associated with increased body mass index (BMI) while children who received their biggest dose of light — outdoors and indoors — in the afternoon were slimmer,” said one researcher. According to the study, light exposure has a significant effect on weight even when other factors are accounted for.
Children are receiving other forms of environmental light through electronics and it is messing up their circadian rhythms.
“The circadian clock — also known as the internal body clock — is largely driven by our exposure to light and the timing of when that happens. It impacts on sleep patterns, weight gain or loss, hormonal changes and our mood,” she said.
Light exposure can now be added to the growing list of factors that affect weight.
For more information, read the full study.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160107104820.htm
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0143578
Razi Berry, Founder and Publisher of Naturopathic Doctor News & Review (ndnr.com) and NaturalPath (thenatpath.com), has spent the last decade as a natural medicine advocate and marketing whiz. She has galvanized and supported the naturopathic community, bringing a higher quality of healthcare to millions of North Americans through her publications. A self-proclaimed health-food junkie and mother of two; she loves all things nature, is obsessed with organic gardening, growing fruit trees (not easy in Phoenix), laughing until she snorts, and homeschooling. She is a little bit crunchy and yes, that is her real name.