Setting the clock back by one hour may have negative effects on health

Toronto – Agencies

The clock is expected to be set back one hour at dawn next Sunday with the end of daylight saving time, which gives Canadians an extra hour of sleep, but health experts warn that this short benefit may be met with negative effects on physical and mental health in the following weeks.

Specialists say that the decrease in daylight hours after the clock is delayed can lead to mood changes in many people and increase the likelihood of seasonal depression, a common disorder in the winter months. Also, reduced exposure to sunlight contributes to lower levels of vitamin D in the body, which may affect immunity, bone health, and daily energy.

Sleep experts explained that the sudden change in the body's biological clock—even by 60 minutes—may lead to sleep and concentration disorders, especially in the first days after the shift, confirming that the body usually needs three to five days to adapt to the new schedule.

Doctors recommend ensuring exposure to sunlight in the morning hours, engaging in regular physical activity, and adhering to a fixed sleep schedule to reduce the effects of the transition to winter time.

Daylight saving time ends in most Canadian provinces on the first Sunday of November, with clocks set back to local standard time until next March.