Metabolic Implications of Exposure to Light at Night: Lessons from Animal and Human Studies

Jul 24, 2020Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)

How Exposure to Light at Night May Affect Metabolism in Animals and Humans

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Abstract

Artificial (LAN) is associated with an increased incidence of overweight, obesity, and atherosclerosis.

  • Chronic exposure to LAN disrupts daily rhythms in locomotor activity, food intake, sleep/wake cycles, body temperature, melatonin, glucocorticoids, and glucose and lipid metabolism.
  • Short-term exposure to LAN has acute negative effects on metabolically active peripheral tissues.
  • Different wavelengths of LAN influence energy metabolism, with each wavelength possibly having a distinct impact.
  • LAN exposure affects glucose homeostasis in humans.

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Key numbers

40% of adults
Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity
In 2016, nearly 40% of adults worldwide were reported to have overweight.
99% of the population
Association with Light Exposure
99% of the population in the EU and US lives in areas where nighttime illumination exceeds light pollution thresholds.

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