Does day light savings time cause health problems?
Posted by Matt Dioguardi on June 7th, 2008
Some Japanese researchers have concluded that day light savings time is a bad idea. Here is the evidence they used:
The group also studied empirical data of a 2004 experiment–the first of its kind in Japan–in which some Hokkaido companies introduced simulated daylight savings time by bringing office start and finish times forward by one hour. Based on this data, the group concluded that a national daylight saving time would create about 1.2 trillion yen in economic losses. The losses would stem from an increase in medical fees and a deterioration of working efficiency. According to the Hokkaido experiment, about 40 percent of employees said they felt unhealthier due to the earlier starting time. [Link]
I have no idea as to whether day light savings time is a good idea or not. However, it’s seems pretty obvious this study is worth next to nothing. What a waste of time. Obviously if only some of the offices were doing this, and not society at large, it would have created problems for the workers. They would have stayed up late to watch their favorite programs or spend time with family members.
A study like this can’t be taken serious. It must have just been an excuse for a research project.
July 30th, 2008 at 2:44 am
I wonder how long the “daylight savings time” was kept in place. Losing that hour of sleep takes an adjustment, but after a week or so all traces of circadian confusion have generally dissipated. Also, self-reporting statistics are to science what lie detectors and forced confessions are to justice.
Daylight Savings Time is an elaborate dance that we could probably do without if businesses were more flexible about their operating hours, but since time is money, and farmers can’t take their goods to market at 8:00 a.m. in the summertime, we have to juggle the clock around to suit the suits.
October 5th, 2008 at 3:57 am
It’s been proven in Perth, that daylight savings messes with your body clock. We are just doing the end of a 3 year trial and i have to say it’s a pain in the arse. Hubby gets up to go to work in the pitch black but when we go to bed it’s still daylight, it’s like a reversal, our body clock is all over the place. Especially as it’s during summer, when there is light it’s still hot, it should be in winter, not summer.
The japanese are already pretty messed up i wouldn’t add to their stresses by introducing daylight saving.