Is Being a Night Owl Harmful for Your Health?

Do you stay up past your bedtime most nights? The Doctors share a new study which found that people who stay up late can also develop other health issues.

About The Doctors:

The Doctors is an Emmy award-winning daytime talk show hosted by ER physician Dr. Travis Stork, plastic surgeon Dr. Andrew Ordon and OB-GYN Dr. Nita Landry.

The Doctors helps you understand the latest health headlines, such as the ice bucket challenge for ALS and the Ebola outbreak; delivers exclusive interviews with celebrities dealing with health issues, such as Lamar Odom, Teen Mom star Farrah Abraham, reality stars Honey Boo Boo and Mama June, and activist Chaz Bono; brings you debates about health and safety claims from agricultural company Monsanto and celebrities such as Jenny McCarthy; and shows you the latest gross viral videos and explains how you can avoid an emergency situation. The Doctors also features the News in 2:00 digest of the latest celebrity health news and The Doctors’ Prescription for simple steps to get active, combat stress, eat better and live healthier.

Now in its eighth season, The Doctors celebrity guests have included Academy Award Winners Sally Field, Barbra Streisand, Jane Fonda, Marcia Gay Harden, Kathy Bates and Marisa Tomei; reality stars from Teen Mom and The Real Housewives, as well as Kris Jenner, Caitlyn Jenner, Melissa Rivers, Sharon Osbourne, Tim Gunn and Amber Rose; actors Jessica Alba, Christina Applegate, Julie Bowen, Patricia Heaton, Chevy Chase, Kristin Davis, Lou Ferrigno, Harrison Ford, Grace Gealey, Cedric the Entertainer, Valerie Harper, Debra Messing, Chris O’Donnell, Betty White, Linda Gray, Fran Drescher, Emmy Rossum, Roseanne Barr, Valerie Bertinelli, Suzanne Somers; athletes Magic Johnson, Apolo Ohno and Danica Patrick; musicians Tim McGraw, Justin Bieber, Clint Black, LL Cool J, Nick Carter, Kristin Chenoweth, Paula Abdul, Gloria Gaynor, La Toya Jackson, Barry Manilow, Bret Michaels, Gene Simmons and Jordin Sparks; and celebrity chefs Wolfgang Puck, Guy Fieri and Curtis Stone.

[Rajshikari]

Night is so Beautiful, we can't compare it with day
Night is so peaceful, and no Harsh Sunlight

[silversamurai]

Here's a thought... maybe we're more likely to die early from health problems because, in this modern society, most jobs and social structures force us to wake up early. When you can't fall asleep until 2am, and then wake up 4-5 hours later for your job or to meet up with friends, it's no wonder your health is declining. I can't imagine that night owls who are fully in control of their own sleeping schedule are at any risk of being unhealthy and dying, just because of their sleeping habits. The night itself is not going to kill you. And bad habits such as laziness, eating at night and lack of exercise can be changed without changing your sleeping habits. This entire discussion seems very biased, on the early bird's side.

[mulliganstew]

They’re running out of things to talk about. If you get your eight hours you get your eight hours. See a little sunlight & you’re fine. In any event it is what it is and I love being a night owl.

[kasnarfburns]

I wonder if they've taken into consideration that the vast majority of night owls are pressured to adjust the schedules of early risers -- not the other way around. I'm NOT a night owl BECAUSE I'm an insomniac. I've known since college that I can focus and better engage in intellectual pursuits when it's dark. The vast majority of jobs and lifestyles require you work in teams who typically work during the day. Thankfully more varied opportunities are opening up.

[anilakna]

I'm a teacher and a night owl. I teach adolescents and it's proven that it would be healthier when they start school at 11 o'clock in the morning. Sometimes some of my students are so tired. And more important... I would function better too.

[DeathswingKettlebell]

I absolutely despised having a job that start at 5am forcing me to be an early bird. Hated it with a passion. I was so tired. Thankfully I work a different job from 330pm to midnight. Bye bye alarm clock. I get to do whatever fun I want before with with tons of energy and that makes me happy. Bonus, no traffic to and after work :)

[betteryourlife]

Doesn’t it make sense that some people are early risers and some are night owls based on someone always needing to be “on watch”. We don’t have to keep watch for predators anymore but not everyone can sleep at the same time when there’s always dangers lurking. I’ve been a night owl since I was a little kid. My mom would find me in my room at midnight playing with my toys lol. Hard to break my own internal clock.

[preciousmousse]

"Waking up at a good time". Good my arse. Don't blame the night owl for not getting enough sleep or needing to sleep until later. Blame the standardized social schedule that's not working for everybody.

[ashleynctzen]

Well thats just great i can't even get myself to sleep at a normal time. I be up to like 6-7 am

[DimensionalGaming]

I cant do daytime no more. Got addicted to the peace and quiet of the night.

[objectivityisourfriend]

This is all washed up mid-twentieth-century bunk. Flexible schedule/ can wake up whenever you want = night owls are healthy. What is this judgment about us? We're lazy? Don't work out? Eat poorly? Gimme a break. I'm a massive night owl and neither of those things. I stay up until 3/ 4am when I'm on my own schedule/work for myself, and I'm very healthy and lean at 43 and everyone thinks I'm 30. I don't "snack" at night, but I eat dinner at 11pm and am still looking just fine and my health stats are perfect - docs rave. I refuse to wake up to alarm clocks and refuse a lifestyle that requires early rising - that includes no kids and no pets, lol. My BF is the same as me - everything is great.

[blessed]

I'm a night owl thats me time to enjoy and do what I need and wants to do without distractions but I do get at least 7hrs of shut-eye and I'm good.

Night owl destroyed that boomers whole argument in few seconds 😂😂

[dantedt]

I’m nocturnal.I get enough sleep and my eating habit is pretty ok.I love nocturnalism.

[entertainmentchannel]

"Fear, fear, fear! Conform, conform, conform!"

[shyreal]

chad night owl vs the virgin early bird

[ItApproaches]

False. Forcing people to constantly go against their internal clock is harmful lol.

[kevin]

I work overnight so I sleep during the day. You get used to it but the biggest issues are probably 1) little to no social interaction, which is preferred by some people, and 2) little to no vitamin d from the sun. I think a night owl lifestyle is fine so long as you eat healthy, exercise, get enough sleep, and do the usual stuff for a healthy body and mind.

[patandemy]

A neurologist told me that there is a scientific name for the brain who functions well at night. I worked 12 hour shifts as a nurse 35 years. I ate dinner in the morning, went to sleep about 4 hrs later as you would after coming home from work if you worked at day time. Ate breakfast at 6pm, ate my lunch 2am. If I needed meds I took them at night as my doctor said it was the best time for me. You guys have no clue

[sl]

I've been out on disability and sleeping in until 2:00 pm, and staying up later and later, not a good cycle.