Study: Exposure to light during sleep linked to issues

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY-TV/ CNN) - Trying to lose weight?

Close your curtains and turn off all the lights when you go to bed, yes, even the TV.

Scientists say even dim light can disrupt your sleep, raising the risk of serious health issues like obesity along with diabetes and hypertension.

The study was done at Northwestern University and published Wednesday in the Journal Sleep.

Researchers focused on older adults in their 60s, 70s and 80s  and noticed more than 53% of the 500-some people they studied had some kind of light in their room at night. 

And those same people were more likely to have diabetes, obesity, or hypertension.

But younger people aren't exempt here.

The same team did another study of healthy adults in their 20s and found even sleeping for just one night with a dim light raised their blood sugar and heart rate. 

It also created a deficit of slow-wave and rapid eye movement sleep, the kind of sleep you need for cellular renewal.