It’s the last couple weeks before Halloween and lots of Americans are starting the slim down process for what is generally considered in this great nation to be the Holiday of Unadulterated Exposed Flesh. All standards of public decency go out the window and no one is allowed to judge you for looking like you’re 4 minutes into a Smurfs-themed porn scene.

UNLESS, of course, you’re lookin’ a little… thick.

So, of course, we’re all on a mission to lose those last couple pounds before the big day, taking supplements, working out harder than an Olympic athlete, cutting out all carbs, fats, starches, and sugars, and stocking up on enough self-tanner to make any Jersey Shore cast member jealous. However, new reports are suggesting that something unexpected might be making you fat: keeping the lights on after dark! According to Asylum, (and a new study performed at Ohio State University), mice exposed to constant dim light gained 33 percent more weight than mice in a normal daylight/nightfall cycle.

Apparently, your body metabolizes food differently late at night, but keeping the lights on too late convinces your body that it should continue eating. According to co-author Randy Nelson, “Light at night is an environmental factor that may be contributing to the obesity epidemic in ways that people don’t expect.”

That explains why after a night of partying, I think it’s okay to eat carne-asada-nachos-flavored pizza.Veeeerrry interesting.

Trying to squeeze into a tiny Halloween costume in 18 days? Turn off the lights!