British sleep researchers urge the government to adopt year-round Standard Time, emphasizing that twice-yearly clock changes harm sleep and circadian health.
Summary: A team of sleep researchers from the British Sleep Society has called on the UK government to end the twice-yearly clock changes, advocating for a permanent shift to Standard Time (Greenwich Mean Time). They argue that maintaining Standard Time year-round would align better with natural light patterns, thereby improving sleep and circadian health, especially since moving the clocks forward in spring can disrupt sleep. This recommendation comes with support from multiple health organizations, and the society emphasizes that such a decision should consider the unique geographical positioning of the UK and be made in partnership with Ireland.
Key Takeaways:
- Health Impact of Standard Time: Permanent Standard Time is recommended to improve sleep quality and circadian alignment, offering health benefits by aligning with natural light patterns, particularly in the morning.
- Disruption from Daylight Saving Time: Experts say changing to Daylight Saving Time each spring disrupts sleep and circadian health, particularly by pushing schedules forward, which affects those with later sunrises and sunsets, as seen in the UK.
- Support for Collaboration: The British Sleep Society encourages a joint decision with Ireland to avoid creating a time zone border and aims to provide a UK-focused perspective on the benefits of abolishing seasonal time changes.
A team of sleep researchers from the British Sleep Society have called for the government to abolish the twice-yearly clock changes in the UK due to the adverse effects on sleep and circadian health.
After considering the available scientific evidence that circadian and sleep health are positively affected by the availability of natural daylight during the morning and negatively affected by the twice-yearly changes of clock time, especially when the clocks move forward in spring, the British Sleep Society recommends the abolition of the twice-yearly clock changes in the UK.
With sleep being central to health and wellbeing, the society has issued a statement saying that it “strongly recommends” for Standard Time—also known as Greenwich Mean Time—to run throughout the year.
The statement, which is published in the Journal of Sleep Research, is co-authored by academics from across the UK, led by Megan Crawford, PhD, of the University of Strathcylde, Eva Winnebeck, PhD, of the University of Surrey, and professor Malcolm von Schantz, PhD, of Northumbria University.
The society has published its statement to coincide with the clocks changing to Standard Time, an arrangement which began in 1972 with the British Summer Time Act.
Evidence Shows Negative Impact on Sleep
Evidence reviewed by the society shows the changes of clock time to Daylight Saving Time in late March, more widely known as British Summer Time, can interfere negatively with sleep regulation.
“There is an ongoing debate in the UK and in other countries about whether twice-yearly changes into and out of Daylight Saving Time should be abolished,” says von Schantz, professor of chronobiology at Northumbria University and a member of the Northumbria Centre for Sleep Research, in a release. “Standard Time aligns closely with the natural light-dark cycles of the day and night. In calling for Standard Time to run year-long, the society emphasizes that natural daylight in the morning is crucial for maintaining an optimal alignment of our body clocks with day and night, which is essential for optimal sleep and overall health.”
He adds in a release, “Restoring permanent Standard Time would mean our clocks would be closely aligned to solar time, and while it would mean earlier sunsets in the summer, there would be additional benefits to health from improved sleep and circadian alignment due to increased exposure to morning sunlight from autumn to spring.”
Winnebeck, lecturer in chronobiology at the University of Surrey, says in a release: “What we often don’t realize is that Daylight Saving Time changes our schedules, moving them forward by one hour while daylight remains the same. [Daylight Saving Time] forces us all to get up and go to work or school one hour earlier. In seasons with fewer daylight hours such as now in autumn, it means most of us have to get up and commute in the dark.”
Geographical Context of the UK
Members of the British Sleep Society assessed the unique geographical context and orientation of the UK in their decision-making. Noting that almost the entire UK is located to the west of the Prime Meridian which passes through the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, most of the country experiences later sunrises and later sunsets all year round.
The society also noted that if the UK considers changes to the current time zone arrangements, then the discussion and decision should be taken in partnership with the Republic of Ireland to avoid a time zone border across the island.
“Discussions around abolishing the twice-yearly clock change keep emerging, alarmingly some want to replace it with Daylight Saving Time all year round,” says Crawford, senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Strathclyde, in a release. “We consider this a misguided idea from a sleep and circadian health perspective. Mornings are the time when our body clocks have the greatest need for light to stay in sync. At our latitudes, there is simply no spare daylight to save during the winter months and given the choice between natural light in the morning and natural light in the afternoon, the scientific evidence favors light in the morning.”
She adds, “Other sleep societies have argued against this and the return to all year-round Standard Time, but there is currently no published UK perspective. The unique location and orientation of our UK landmass needs to be considered because permanent DST would over-disadvantage people west and north of London.”
The position statement is supported by several organizations, including The Irish Sleep Society, British Paediatric Sleep Society, Capella (Sleep Action), The Sleep Charity, and The British Society of Pharmacy Sleep Services.
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