The fiddling with time appears to be far from beneficial to our health.
Twice a year we change the clock: on the last Sunday in March we put the clock forward one hour and on the last Sunday in October we put it back one hour. However, more and more people are advocating abolishing these time changes. The transition to summer time in the spring in particular often leads to frustration because we then have an hour less sleep. But the problem goes further than that. A recent study shows that the start of daylight saving time also results in an unhealthy lifestyle for many people.
Why do we actually change the clock?
Daylight saving time was first introduced on April 30, 1916, in the middle of World War I, to save electricity, but was discontinued after World War II. Until the oil crisis broke out and energy savings were needed again. Between 1974 and 1981, almost all European countries returned to daylight saving time, which sets the clock forward one hour. This meant that lights would not have to burn as long, which would save electricity. But although incandescent light bulbs were certainly a lot less efficient than today’s LED lights, there was some debate even then about how much difference it really made. In our time, it could even be counterproductive, as the heating has to be on longer in the morning and the air conditioning is on longer in the evening.
Most people are not shy about the fact that we are not exactly thrilled about the change of time in the spring. In a new study, researchers analyzed social media data from X (formerly Twitter) to see how people are reacting to the introduction of daylight saving time. They found that the number of tweets about the disruptive effects of the time change increased significantly about twelve hours after daylight saving time had started. The number of negative tweets also increased significantly. In short, most people seem unenthusiastic about the introduction of daylight saving time.
We snack more and exercise less
In addition, the study examined two different behaviors surrounding the introduction of daylight saving time: snack consumption and gym visits. And the findings show that we eat more unhealthy snacks and go to the gym less. The effect on calorie intake appears to be greater in the evening and on cloudy days. Gym visits decrease especially among members who live further away and among members who do not visit the gym often anyway.
Fatigue
Surprisingly, the switch from summer time to winter time does not affect the consumption of unhealthy snacks. These findings show how fatigue due to that hour less sleep during the introduction of summer time reduces self-control, resulting in unhealthy eating habits. “Our study shows that the start of summer time is a fairly large obstacle,” the researchers write. “This means that policymakers should consider abolishing the clock change. There should also be more campaigns that encourage healthy eating and exercise, especially around the introduction of summer time.”
Abolish?
Policymakers have long debated whether we should abolish the clock change, and if so, whether it is better to keep daylight saving time or winter time. Sleep scientists advocate winter time, because it best suits people’s biological rhythms. On the other hand, many retailers are in favor of permanent summer time, because longer evenings are good for their business. It is therefore crucial to understand the consequences of the current policy, so that policymakers, managers and the general public can be better informed.
Don’t buy snacks
Overall, this study highlights the negative effects of Daylight Savings Time. According to the researchers, it is therefore important that we find ways to better manage our self-control during the transition to Daylight Savings Time. For example, the researchers advise not to stock up on unhealthy snacks around that time. Gym members can also schedule their workouts near the gym to make it easier to keep exercising after the time change. Spot schools can also do their part, for example by organizing special events to encourage people to keep coming.
This study joins previous research highlighting the downsides of DST. For example, previous studies have shown that in the week following the introduction of DST, the risk of cardiovascular disease increases by 24 percent. People are also more likely to be injured, the risk of stroke increases by 8 percent, and people experience more mental health problems, with an 11 percent increase in depression. These findings highlight the need to thoroughly rethink the impact of DST and find solutions that benefit both health and well-being.