In the Light: Exposure to Morning Sun Might Make you Thinner

Are you a morning person? Does sunshine, newspaper and hot coffee pull you out of bed at 7 a.m., regardless of work or not? If so, chances are your body has a more in-tune circadian rhythm and energy balance, which also means you're more likely to be a healthier weight. 

"Light is a modifiable factor with the potential to be used in weight management programs," said co-lead author Kathryn Reid, research associate professor of neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, via a press release. "Just like people are trying to get more sleep to help them lose weight, perhaps manipulating light is another way to lose weight."

According to a recent study conducted by researchers from the Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, they found that exposure to morning light starting at 8 a.m. to noon can help lower body mass index (BMI). And the best part is that it only takes as little as 20 to 30 minutes of daybreak to help your body get in tune.

Researchers tested the light exposure of 26 male and 28 female study participants for a week in normal living conditions. They were asked to wear wrist monitors in order to be more closely studied.

"The earlier this light exposure occurred during the day, the lower individuals' body mass index," Reid said, via the release. "The later the hour of moderately bright light exposure, the higher a person's BMI."

The influence of morning rays was also independent of participant's activity level, sleep timing, age, calorie intake or the current season, which accounted for close to a fifth of a person's BMI.

As many individuals do not get enough natural light in the morning due to an indoor and primarily sedentary lifestyle, researchers found that a light level of 500 lux was the "magic number" to having a lower BMI.

And don't let cloudy days fool you. Even with gray skies, outdoor light produces more than 1,000 lux of brightness, while staying inside may only provide 200 to 300 lux of light.

Are you getting enough sunlight?

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the journal PLOS One.