Confirm: Is permanent daylight saving time harmful to your health?

The concept of adjusting clocks twice a year—springing forward and falling back—has long been a topic of debate. While many people support the idea of eliminating these time changes, there’s a growing concern about what that might mean for our health. Specifically, if we were to lock in daylight saving time permanently, could it have negative consequences?

Question:
Can permanent Daylight Saving Time actually be worse for your health?

Answer:
Yes, research suggests that permanent daylight saving time may indeed be worse for your health.

Sources:
– A 2025 Stanford Medicine study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
– Dr. Mark Tafazoli, a local sleep center director
– American Academy of Sleep Medicine

What We Found:
In a previous investigation, we discovered that daylight saving time can reduce the risk of being robbed. However, when it comes to health, the benefits may not outweigh the drawbacks.

The key issue lies in morning sunlight. Under permanent daylight saving time, sunrise would occur later throughout the year. In North Alabama, for example, winter sunrises would shift to nearly 8 a.m. This delay in morning light disrupts the body’s internal clock, according to Dr. Mark Tafazoli.

“The impact will be that you’re literally shifting your body’s ability to stay awake longer. So you’re not going to get as much sleep that night for the next day. That sleep deprivation over time can cause issues.”

Tafazoli also highlights the concept of “social jetlag,” which refers to the mismatch between your schedule and your body’s natural clock. This disruption has been linked to more than just feeling groggy. He explains:

“An appropriate sleep affects hormonal access, affects your mood, affects your memory, and your cognitive ability to function through the day in relationship to work performance.”

To determine the healthiest option, Stanford researchers modeled three different scenarios: permanent standard time, permanent daylight saving time, and the current system of changing the clocks twice a year.

Their findings revealed that daylight saving time could place more strain on the body’s internal clock. Additionally, their models showed that permanent standard time could prevent around 900,000 more cases of obesity and approximately 80,000 more strokes compared to permanent daylight saving time.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine supports this conclusion. The organization advocates for ending the practice of changing clocks altogether but prefers permanent standard time rather than permanent daylight saving time.

If you have something you’d like us to verify, feel free to text us at 256-382-2692.