A new study titled, Timing and Intensity of Light Correlate with Body Weight in Adults suggests that waking up early and getting outside may help you lose weight. Now before you write this off as another weight loss gimmick realize that there is a very sound physiological explanation behind this.  The study published in PLOS ONE explains that light exposure plays a significant role in our body's circadian rhythm, which is largely responsible for our metabolism. The study found that light exposure between the hours of 6-9am had the greatest impact on weight loss and further found that for every hour delayed in light exposure, BMI rose by 1.28!

Hormones, Timing, and Weight Loss

There is at least one possible mechanism of action behind these findings. Cortisol is one of our body's primary stress hormones and has very far reaching effects on our metabolism. I actually wrote another article on how cortisol can play a critical role in weight gain. Cortisol has a natural diurnal rhythm and is at its peak in the early morning hours followed by a slow and steady tapering until night. If this normal cortisol rhythm somehow becomes altered either by poor sleep habits, stress, illness or whatever, our body will see the effects in the way of fatigue, (especially in the morning if morning cortisol levels are lowered) weight gain, depression and more.  The timing of hormones such as cortisol plays a critical role in our metabolism.

Light Exposure and Hormone Response

Many of our body's hormones are triggered by various light responses.  For instance, melatonin (which helps us fall asleep) production is largely influenced by low levels of light, which is one of the reasons why experts suggest dimming the lights in our bedroom just before bedtime to help with normal melatonin production. Like Melatonin, other hormones such as cortisol have been studied and shown to be influenced by light as well.

What Does This Mean To You?

I have been preaching for years now the importance of regularly waking up early and establishing a strong morning ritual of exercise, meditation, and nutrition. This has been independent of any specific research (although more and more research continues to support this) and based more on personal experience.

I have found in my own life and in the life of my patients that when we make the conscious decision to begin our day early with a strong foundation this carries over into so many areas of our life, physically, mentally, and spiritually.  The fact that there is a connection between waking up early and losing weight is just one more excellent reason for you to begin the habit of arising early each day.  For those of you who use the excuse of "I'm not a morning person", I would simply argue that based on studies such as this one, human physiology seems to disagree with you.  So, with this said, if you haven't yet started a morning routine, start tomorrow and see for yourself how a solid early morning routine can change your life. Schedule an appointment today with your Meridian local chiropractor.