We are always looking for the latest dietary tips to keep slim and trim and a new study shows that the sun could be a great source for maintaining a light and lean figure.

According to research out of Northwestern, results showed that people who were exposed to moderately bright and even natural light early on in the day between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and noon, proved to actually have lower body mass indexes (BMI) versus people who got most of their natural sunlight later on in the afternoon. Who knew?!

The experiment included a group of 54 participants with an average age of 30. Each person wore a special wrist device that was designed to monitor light exposure. The wristband also reported the heights and weights of each participant and kept track of their food intake and exercise.

"For every hour later in which an individual got the majority of their light exposure, that translated into 1.22 BMI units, - or 5 pounds to 10 pounds on a 5-foot-8 person," explained Dr. Phyllis Zee, a Professor of Neurology and Director of the Northwestern Medicine Sleep and Circadian Rhythms Research Program. The study is published in the latest issue of the journal PLOS ONE.

So just how did the researchers at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine figure this all out? Turns out the team discovered a new way to measure the combined impact of light timing, duration and intensity on BMI, a ratio of height to weight.

And just how much weight does this all add up to? The study says the difference in weight could be as much as 30 pounds! The reason behind the dramatic difference in BMI is attributed to the fact that bright morning light helps synchronize circadian rhythms that also regulate energy balance, including hormones such as melatonin, which regulate sleep and weight cycles and affect obesity.

When do you get the most sunlight? Tell us with a note below!