The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) on Monday released a statement in support of the elimination of biannual time changes in favor of permanent Standard Time.
“Insufficient or disordered sleep is associated with diminished physical and mental function, adverse health events, and other negative effects upon multiple disease states plus safety concerns,” says ACLM president Cate Collings, MD, MS, FACC, DipABLM, who is director of Lifestyle Medicine for Silicon Valley Medical Development and El Camino Health Medical Network, in a release. “Current scientific evidence supports the adoption of year-round Standard Time, which aligns best with human circadian biology and provides distinct benefits for public health and safety.”
ACLM, which represents nearly 8,000 physicians and other clinicians, has identified restorative sleep as the foundation upon which other areas of lifestyle medicine—nutrition, physical activity, avoidance of risky substances, stress management, and positive social connections—are improved upon.
“For example, it is very hard for people to follow a healthy diet or get regular physical activity when they are fatigued and lack mental clarity,” Collings says. “Quality sleep improves learning, memory, and motivation for lifestyle-enhancing behaviors, such as healthy food choices and exercise.”
The Sunshine Protection Act, which proposes the establishment of permanent Daylight Savings Time, was recently approved by the US Senate. The bill now awaits a vote in the House of Representatives. ACLM (and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine) say that permanent Standard Time is the better option.
ACLM is the medical professional society providing quality education and certification to those dedicated to clinical and worksite practice of evidence-based lifestyle medicine as the foundation of a transformed and sustainable health care system.
