A new study by scientists from the University of Granada (Spain) found that artificial light from phone screens, street lights, laptops or television stops the body from generating a hormone (melatonin) that combats obesity.
This is because the body needs pitch-black conditions to produce a healthy level of hormones and regulate the conversion of food and drink into energy.
Experiments conducted on obese rats found that increased consumption of the hormone made them lose weight and also fought type two diabetes. Scientists believe it can have the same effect on humans.