It has long been thought that staying up late at night “makes people more likely to smoke, eat unhealthy foods and have a higher body mass index,” all of which are factors linked to the development of type 2 diabetes.
But the research team from Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands explained that the risk of developing diabetes may not be due to lifestyle alone, and said that it may also be due to the fact that the body clock of a person who stays up late at night is “out of sync with the rest of society.”
In the study, the team tracked sleep timing, waist circumference and body mass index of more than 5,000 people, 1,576 participants underwent MRI scans to measure visceral and liver fat, and electronic health records were used to check how many people had type 2 diabetes.
Patients were classified into 3 groups, or “chronotypes,” based on an individual’s tendency to fall asleep at a particular time during a 24-hour period (late, early, and intermediate).
Participants were followed for an average of 6.6 years, during which time 225 patients were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
When age, sex, total body fat and lifestyle factors, such as exercise, diet and smoking, were taken into account, the study found that people who preferred to stay up late “still had a 46% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than people in the average group.”
“A possible explanation is that the circadian rhythm, or biological clock, in the late chronotype is out of sync with the work and social schedules of the rest of society,” said Dr. Jeroen van der Velde, lead researcher on the study. “This could lead to a misalignment of the biological clock, which we know can lead to metabolic disorders and ultimately type 2 diabetes.”
The researchers also found that people who stay up late at night “have a higher body mass index, larger waist circumference, more visceral fat, and higher liver fat content.”
“People with a late chronotype are more likely to eat late in the evening,” van der Velde added. “While we didn’t measure this in our study, there is growing evidence that time-restricted eating, whereby eating nothing after a certain time, such as 6 p.m., may have metabolic benefits. So, night owls who are concerned about an increased risk of type 2 diabetes may want to try this, or at least try to avoid eating late in the evening.”
“The evidence is not yet available, but over time, we aim to provide specific advice regarding the timing of lifestyle behaviors,” he explained.
The study will be presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Madrid.
Source: Daily Mail
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2024-09-10 20:45:01
Table of Contents
The Hidden Link Between Being a Night Owl and Type 2 Diabetes
For years, it has been believed that staying up late at night increases the likelihood of unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking, consuming unhealthy foods, and having a higher body mass index (BMI), all of which are risk factors for type 2 diabetes. However, recent research suggests that the risk of developing diabetes may not be solely due to lifestyle choices, but also due to the internal body clock of individuals who prefer to stay up late at night.
The Role of Chronotype in Type 2 Diabetes
Studies have shown that individuals with an evening chronotype, also known as ”night owls,” are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those with a morning chronotype [1[1[1[1[1[1[1[1]. In fact, research has found that participants with a definitely evening chronotype exhibited a higher risk of type 2 diabetes than those with a definitely morning chronotype [2[2[2[2[2[2[2[2].
A recent study published by the Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands found that people who prefer to stay up late at night have a 46% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those with an intermediate chronotype, even when lifestyle factors such as exercise, diet, and smoking are taken into account [3[3[3[3[3[3[3[3].
The Biological Clock and Metabolic Disorders
So, what explains the increased risk of type 2 diabetes in night owls? According to Dr. Jeroen van der Velde, lead researcher on the study, “A possible explanation is that the circadian rhythm, or biological clock, in the late chronotype is out of sync with the work and social schedules of the rest of society.” This misalignment of the biological clock can lead to metabolic disorders and ultimately, type 2 diabetes.
The Impact of Late-Night Eating
Additionally, people with a late chronotype tend to eat late in the evening, which may contribute to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. While the study did not measure this directly, there is growing evidence that time-restricted eating, which involves limiting food intake to a specific window of time, can help regulate blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of metabolic disorders.
Conclusion
The link between being a night owl and type 2 diabetes is more complex than previously thought. While lifestyle factors certainly play a role, the internal biological clock of individuals with an evening chronotype may also contribute to an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Further research is needed to fully understand this relationship and to develop effective strategies for reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes in night owls.
The Hidden Link Between Being a Night Owl and Type 2 Diabetes
For years, it has been believed that staying up late at night increases the likelihood of unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking, consuming unhealthy foods, and having a higher body mass index (BMI), all of which are risk factors for type 2 diabetes. However, recent research suggests that the risk of developing diabetes may not be solely due to lifestyle choices, but also due to the internal body clock of individuals who prefer to stay up late at night.
The Role of Chronotype in Type 2 Diabetes
Studies have shown that individuals with an evening chronotype, also known as “night owls,” are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those with a morning chronotype [1]. In fact, research has found that participants with a definitely evening chronotype exhibited a higher risk of type 2 diabetes than those with a definitely morning chronotype [[2]](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article