Social Jet Lag: How Mismatched Sleep Schedules Increase Metabolic Disease Risk
What Is Social Jet Lag and How Does It Affect Your Metabolic Health?
Social jet lag is the mismatch between your biological sleep timing (chronotype) and the sleep schedule imposed by social obligations like work or school. This chronic circadian misalignment significantly increases the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, even in people who get adequate sleep duration. Research shows that each hour of social jet lag increases obesity risk by 33% and is associated with higher BMI, worse glucose control, and increased inflammation markers, demonstrating that sleeping at the wrong circadian time has serious metabolic consequences.