Prayagraj: Late-night scrolling may be doing more than just stealing sleep — it could be quietly expanding waistlines.A recent study, conducted jointly by faculty from the zoology and biochemistry departments of Allahabad University and their counterparts at MLN Medical College, suggests that excessive mobile phone use after 11pm is linked to a significant rise in obesity among women, highlighting a growing health concern in urban lifestyles. According to the study, women who remained active on mobile phones late at night showed up to a 15% increase in obesity. The research, conducted on a random sample of 35 women, indicates that this habit may also contribute to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), obesity, and mental stress. The research was led by Gaurav Majumdar of the department of zoology, AU. Majumdar, a Young Associate National awardee of 2024 by the Indian National Science Academy, earlier worked on this research as a research associate at the University of Glasgow in the United Kingdom. He now extended the study to focus on Indian women, beginning with participants from Uttar Pradesh. “This is a 2-year study comprising many more aspects of health-related issues pertaining to the fairer sex, with PCOS being one part of it,” said Majumdar. He further explained that in today’s fast-paced urban life, people are spending more time under artificial light from mobile phones and laptops than under natural sunlight. “This shift is not limited to sleep deprivation. It also disrupts the body’s circadian rhythm, which can trigger several health problems,” he said. Medical examinations conducted with experts from MLN Medical College supported the findings, indicating that excessive mobile use is proving harmful to women’s health. The project is funded by the Uttar Pradesh Council for Science and Technology. Along with Majumdar, the research team includes dean science and former HoD of biochemistry, AU, Prof S I Rizvi. Prof Beenu from the biochemistry department of MLN Medical College, research assistant Garima Gupta from AU’s zoology department, and Garima Yadav, also from AU, are associated with the study. A striking aspect of the study is that weight gain is not linked only to calorie intake but also to the timing of meals. The research found that eating late night or using mobile phones extensively after 11pm can increase body fat in women by up to 15%, suggesting that lifestyle timing plays a crucial role in metabolic health.
