The potential impact of abolishing daylight saving time on American health.
In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from Stanford Medicine compared the effects of three time policies – permanent standard time, permanent daylight saving time, and biannual shifts – on circadian rhythms and health.
Led by Jamie Zeitzer, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, the study found that for most people, permanent standard time offers the most benefits in terms of minimizing circadian disruption. This is because it prioritizes morning light, which aligns with the natural rhythm of the human circadian cycle, which is approximately 24 hours for most individuals.
The study predicts that permanent standard time would lower the nationwide prevalence of obesity by 0.78 percent and the prevalence of stroke by 0.09 percent. On the other hand, under permanent daylight time, the nationwide prevalence of obesity would decrease by 0.51 percent and the prevalence of stroke by 0.04 percent.
However, the benefits of permanent daylight saving time are more pronounced for a smaller segment of the population, specifically those with shorter circadian cycles, who make up about 15 percent of the population. Counterintuitively, these 'morning larks' would experience the least circadian burden under permanent daylight saving time.
The researchers did not account for many factors that could influence real-life light exposure, including weather, geography, and human behavior. Despite these limitations, the study provides valuable insights into the potential health impacts of different time policies.
It's important to note that the debate over which time policy to adopt is ongoing. Supporters of permanent daylight saving time cite potential energy savings, deterrence of crime, and increased leisure time, while supporters of permanent standard time argue for better health benefits.
Zietzer points out that time policy is simply choosing which clock hours represent sunrise and sunset, not altering the total amount of light there is. He hopes the study will encourage similar evidence-based analyses from other fields, such as economics and sociology.
The benefits of permanent standard time vary somewhat by a person's location within a time zone and their chronotype. However, the study's findings suggest that, overall, permanent standard time could lead to significant reductions in obesity and stroke prevalence nationwide.
The study did not find any explicit references to specific organizations supporting the 'Endgültige Standard-Zeit' (final standard time) or detailed health impacts they have justified. However, concerns related to work time regulations, such as working hours for pregnant women and protections under maternity laws, are noted in relation to labor time recording obligations by the German Federal Labor Court.
The collective loss of an hour of sleep during daylight saving time has been linked to an increase in heart attacks and fatal traffic accidents. The researchers acknowledge these concerns and recommend further interdisciplinary research to fully assess the implications of time policy changes.
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