(WTVR) – Is the sound of your alarm clock going off in the morning making you fat?
According to a new study, that unwelcome shock out of a nice, deep sleep you get when your alarm goes off can lead to a higher risk of becoming overweight and obese.
That’s because the alarm clock disrupts the body’s natural sleep/wake cycle. German researchers at the University of Munich call the disruption “social jet lag”.
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It’s similar to jet lag when you travel. People can also get “social jet lag” when they wake up at the same time during the week but sleep in on the weekends.
Looking at people ages 16 to 65, researchers found those with “social jet lag” not only had a greater risk of becoming obese, but they were also more likely to smoke and drink more alcohol and caffeinated beverages.
