If you are having trouble shedding that extra weight, you may need to look to an unlikely source: exposure to light during the night.

According to a study published in the Oct. 11 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, mice who were esposed to constant overnight light gained 50% more weight than mice whose nights were kept dark. This difference was observed even without changes between the groups in regards to exercise or diet.

The scientists suggest that the light may have disrupted their natural circadian rhythms, leading the mice to eat more at the wrong times. The exposure to light seems to have unintentional consequences and may link sleep deprivation and obesity.

Follow me on Twitter or Facebook to receive notice of all the latest updates to this site.

Extroverts may be more likely to suffer sleep deprivation after social interactions, in effect becoming revved up by others, according to a recent study.

The findings, reported in the journal Sleep, suggest that there is a clear interaction between waking social activity, personality traits, and the impact on sleep. The study found that extroverts exposed to 12 hours of an enriched social environment were more vulnerable to subsequent sleep deprivation as compared to introverts.

These results may have implications for how we manage sleep disorders, perhaps highlighting the importance of taking into account personality differences and the impacts on sleep.

Follow me on Twitter or Facebook to receive notice of all the latest updates to this site.

A recent article highlights the concern that searching for health information online may cause unwarranted anxiety termed "cyberchondria".

According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, 8 in 10 Internet users answer their health-related questions online. This may provide reassurance, but it also presents the opportunity to misinterpret symptoms and jump to inaccurate conclusions. These conclusions may result in anxiety about perceived disorders.

This problem can be amplified when the information reviewed is inaccurate. There certainly is a wealth of information out there on the Internet, but not all of it may be reliable. It is important to rely on resources that face careful scrutiny, such as the medical review that occurs here at About.com.

Finally, it is important to take your concerns to a trained health care professional. Although health information is easily accessible, the interpretation of it may require experience that cannot be gleaned from reading online. Moreover, additional testing may also be necessary to answer your questions accurately.

Follow me on Twitter or Facebook to receive notice of all the latest updates to this site.

In a recent study in the journal Addiction, it is has been shown that night owls are more likely to smoke and also have greater difficulty quitting.

Researchers studied 23,000 twin pairs over 30 years and found that those who were more alert at night and had difficulty awakening in the morning, so-called night owls or evening types, were more likely to be current smokers and were less likely to quit.

There could be numerous explanations for this observation. One possibility is that nicotine, a stimulant, makes it more difficult to fall asleep at night.  It may also be due to social consequences, such as spending late nights out at bars or clubs where smoking commonly occurs and may be reinforced.

Follow me on Twitter or Facebook to receive notice of all the latest updates to this site.