Night owls may be more prone to heart disease and diabetes, study finds

The findings could have implications for discussions around the health risks of night-shift work and even changing the clocks to suit daylight hours. Photograph: DCPhoto/Alamy

Night owls may be more prone to heart disease and diabetes than early birds because their bodies are less able to burn fat for energy, US researchers say.

People who rise early rely more on fat as an energy source, and are often more active in the day, than those who stay up later, meaning fat may build up more easily in night owls, the scientists found.