Over the eight-week period of the experiment the mice in the first and third groups gained almost 50% more weight than those exposed to the natural light-dark cycle.
"The good news is that people who stay up late in front of the television and computer may be able to undo some of the harmful effects just by going back to a regular light-dark cycle and minimizing their exposure to artificial light at night, " Bedrosian says.
Heading into its third season this September, his dark and critically-acclaimed motor cycle drama is the highest rated original series FX has ever had on its schedule.
The remaining rodents were also exposed to a cycle, but the dark was replaced with a dim glow equivalent to the twilight at the first flickers of dawn.