“Social Jetlag” a Cause of Obesity?

Author: Sean Wells
Recently appearing in clinical studies is the effect of sleep, or sometimes the lack thereof, in relation to metabolism and weight loss. A recent animal trial provided implications about the disruption or compromise of circadian rhythms—the daily biological cycles we all possess.

In humans, a recently surfacing version of this phenomenon is referred to as social jetlag; a syndrome related to the mismatch between the body’s internal clock and the realities of our daily schedules. Accumulating studies seem to indicate it does more than make us sleepy—it is also contributing to the growing tide of obesity.

“We have identified a syndrome in modern society that has not been recognized until recently,” said Till Roenneberg, of the University of Munich. “It concerns an increasing discrepancy between the daily timing of the physiological clock and the social clock. As a result of this social jetlag, people are chronically sleep-deprived. They are also more likely to smoke and drink more alcohol and caffeine. Now, we show that social jetlag also contributes to obesity; the plot that social jetlag is really bad for our health is thickening.”

In order to determine the scope of this growing biological disruption in the population, Roenneberg’s team is compiling a vast database on human sleeping and waking behavior. Their analysis, compiled over the course of the last decade, shows that people with more severe social jetlag are also more likely to be overweight. In other words, it appears that living consistently off tempo—in physiological terms—may be a factor contributing to the epidemic of obesity, the researchers say.

“Waking up with an alarm clock is a relatively new facet of our lives,” Roenneberg says. “It simply means that we haven’t slept enough and this is the reason why we are chronically tired. Good sleep and enough sleep is not a waste of time but a guarantee for better work performance and more fun with friends and family during off-work times.”

Practical suggestions from other researchers for re-aligning with our circadian rhythm includes paying better attention to the body’s ebb and flow of energy on a daily basis. It’s also encouraged to allow for a 60-90 minute “un-plugging” period before actual sleep—time spent without computer or television screens. It is reported that after these natural rhythms reassert themselves, individuals have experienced better sleep, reduced stress and greater energy. It is easy to see how these improvements might easily influence progress in weight management.