Scientists Confirm Daylight Savings Time Harms Health, Advocates Push Change
A new study from Stanford University provides compelling evidence that daylight savings time (DST) negatively impacts health, reinforcing arguments from many sleep experts regarding the need to eliminate the time change altogether. The study indicates that maintaining standard time year-round could lead to fewer cases of obesity and strokes, highlighting the potential health benefits of abandoning the biannual clock adjustment.
Researchers compared three different scenarios: permanent standard time, permanent daylight savings time, and the current system of switching clocks twice a year. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, meticulously analyzed sunlight exposure across the contiguous United States alongside federal health data. Dr. Jamie Zeitzer, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, emphasized the importance of understanding the “circadian burden” associated with each scenario, measuring the stress placed on our biological rhythms.
Dr. Zeitzer’s team discovered that the permanent standard time scenario imposed the least stress on the circadian system, which regulates sleep, metabolism, and overall health. “This aligns with our findings since 2019,” said Dr. Karin Johnson, a neurology professor at the University of Massachusetts Chan School of Medicine. She has previously testified before a US Senate committee advocating for permanent standard time, arguing that such a shift would create a more natural alignment between daily social schedules and the sun’s cycle.
According to Dr. Johnson, our body rhythms are influenced by sunlight, and any disruption can lead to various health issues, including sleep disturbances and metabolic disorders. “The more we align with daylight hours, the healthier we are,” she asserted.
Despite the scientific backing for permanent standard time, there remains a political divide regarding the future of daylight savings. Some lawmakers, including former President Donald Trump, have supported proposals to make daylight savings time permanent, citing benefits like extended evening daylight. The Sunshine Protection Act has been introduced in Congress multiple times, but consensus remains elusive.
Public sentiment about daylight savings is shifting. A Gallup poll conducted in early 2023 revealed that 48% of Americans favor permanent standard time, while only 24% support keeping daylight savings time. Interestingly, a YouGov poll from the same year found that among those who want to stop changing clocks, 50% preferred permanent daylight savings, and 31% favored permanent standard time.
While advocates for permanent daylight savings argue it could alleviate seasonal depression and boost evening activities, Dr. Zeitzer cautions that the implications of changing light exposure are complex. “We must consider how these changes affect exercise patterns, school commutes, and economic productivity,” he noted.
Ultimately, Dr. Johnson remains optimistic about the potential for change. “We are in a slow process, but studies like this can help shift public perception,” she said, highlighting the urgency for a reconsideration of how society approaches time changes.
As discussions continue and public interest grows, the debate over daylight savings time and its impact on health remains prominent. Many are eager to see reform that aligns modern living with natural biological rhythms, reducing the health risks associated with time changes.
