Is Daylight Saving Making You Fat?

Written on November 7, 2024 - 11:20 am | by Terra

I’m no fan of this daylight saving BS. Apparently I’m not the only one that feels this way. I’ve yet to meet someone that actually likes changing their clocks twice a year and having it pitch dark outside before 6 in the evening.

I can think of many negatives about adjusting our clocks to save daylight. One is the negative impact on some people’s health. I’m not talking about the momentary rise in blood pressure from having to find the manuals for your electronics that don’t update themselves automatically, or did adjust a week or two ago. Or the frustration or anger of realizing you didn’t set your clock and you’re an hour early for work. So much for that extra hour of sleep!
I’m talking about the decrease in physical activity. For example, we have a small basketball court in our backyard. In the summer I can come home late in the evening from my last training appointment and let my youngest son know that just because he has a slight (very slight Ant) height advantage over me I can still take him. Now it’s as dark as midnight when I leave home for my evening appointments! So I have to wonder “how many other kids and adults are inside doing less because the sun gets off work early?“.

Monday night (at the late hour of 6 pm) I had an outdoor training session momentarily interrupted by a nocturnal visitor. I haven’t had that happen when there is a hint of sunlight. I’m also sure that would have been enough to make some people go into workout hibernation until spring. Not good for the heart, the waistline or health in general.

How many pick up games of soccer, two hand touch or tackle football, or basketball are being cut short because of not enough light? How many kids have an earlier curfew because of the premature nightfall? That can be a lot of exercise opportunity that’s lost.

So I’m going to add daylight saving to the list of things that is adding to the obesity epidemic, right along with fast food, soda, trans fats and sit-on-your-butt video games.

Is there anyone who’s not a direct descendant of Dracula that can give me a good reason for this daylight saving mumbo jumbo?

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