Changing the clocks increases health risks

It didn’t used to affect me, but the last few times the clocks have changed, both forward and back, I haven’t felt quite right. For a few days after the time change, my brain feels a bit foggy, my energy is off, and I’ve heard other people talk about similar experiences.

I recently learned that daylight saving time was enacted in the US during World War I to conserve energy and fuel by reducing the need for artificial lighting in the evenings. Certain businesses, such as golf courses and open-air malls, understandably want daylight saving time to become permanent. A prominent argument in favor of permanent standard time comes from parents not wanting their kids to go to school in the dark year-round.

Now, scientists at Stanford Medicine weigh in with their recommendations, citing significant health benefits for millions of Americans by eliminating the biannual time changes.

The studies indicate that making standard time permanent would amount to 2.6 million fewer people with obesity and 300,000 fewer cases of stroke annually. Those numbers dip with permanent daylight saving, with 1.7 million and 220,000, respectively.

The scientists argue that disrupting the circadian rhythm, the brain and body’s internal 24-hour clock, makes some people susceptible to metabolic and cardiovascular system irregularities that increase the risk of obesity and stroke.

Obesity and the circadian rhythm are linked because when we eat, sleep, and move impacts how efficiently our bodies use and store energy. Circadian misalignment can disrupt hormone activity, including those that govern hunger and satiety, making it easier to gain weight.

Regarding stroke risk, circadian disruption can increase inflammation and oxidative stress, as well as blood pressure irregularities, and impair glucose and fat metabolism. This is why overnight shift workers have a 40% higher risk of cardiovascular disease, including stroke.

I would struggle to choose between standard and daylight saving time. On one hand, exposure to direct early morning sunlight helps balance the circadian rhythm, increasing the likelihood of a good night’s sleep, but sunset at 4:45 pm is a real bummer.

Which would you prefer?

You can read more about the scientist’s findings in this article from Stanford.
https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2025/09/daylight-saving-time-stroke-ob...