Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday; Stanford Study Calls for Change

UPDATE: Daylight saving time officially ends this Sunday, November 5, 2023, at 2:00 AM, prompting discussions about whether it should be eliminated permanently. A new study from Stanford University highlights the negative health impacts of this biannual clock change, suggesting that the practice could be doing more harm than good.

As millions prepare to set their clocks back one hour, college students at UC Berkeley are reacting to the shift. Eugene You, a 20-year-old freshman, expressed surprise upon learning about the adjustment, saying, “I’m from Asia, and we don’t do this.” However, fellow student Thomas Tang, 21, shrugged it off, stating, “I’ll take one more hour of sleep.”

While some embrace the extra hour, others worry about the disruption it causes. Local resident Catherine shared her concerns about her young children adjusting to the darker evenings, saying, “It’s confusing for the kids… but they’ll adjust – give it a week or two.”

The clock change affects over 300 million Americans and will require another adjustment when clocks “spring forward” in March. Yet, the ongoing debate around daylight saving time intensifies as research indicates it could be detrimental to health. The Stanford study, released in September, reveals that this shift can disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm, leading to increased risks of conditions like obesity and stroke.

According to the study, eliminating daylight saving time could prevent obesity in over 2.6 million people and significantly reduce stroke cases by 200,000 to 300,000. Researchers utilized county-level data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to analyze health outcomes related to time changes.

The sentiment against daylight saving time is growing. A recent Gallup poll indicated that only 40% of U.S. adults support the practice, down from approximately 75% in the late 1990s. There is also a rising call for a permanent standard time, as many Americans express confusion and frustration with the twice-a-year clock adjustments.

Students like Onyinye Boardman, a 20-year-old media studies major, are among those who favor a single time throughout the year. “Honestly, why do we even bother?” she remarked, highlighting the inconvenience the changes cause, especially during evening classes.

As the weekend approaches, many will benefit from the extra hour, but the health implications and public sentiment suggest that this may be one of the last times Americans adjust their clocks. With ongoing debates and research highlighting the adverse effects of daylight saving time, the future of this practice remains uncertain.

Stay tuned for developments as officials and health experts weigh in on the potential for legislative changes regarding daylight saving time.