Many people worry about gaining weight when eating later than a particular time.
One common suggestion is to not eat after 8 p.m., but advice about eating at night is misleading.
In reality, what you eat is much more important than when you eat.
This article separates fact from fiction when it comes to late-night eating and weight gain.
In this article
Eating and your circadian rhythm
The idea that eating at night makes you gain weight stems from animal studies, which suggest that the body may use consumed calories differently past a certain time of day.
Some researchers hypothesize that eating at night goes against your circadian rhythm, which is the 24-hour cycle that tells your body when to sleep, eat and wake.
According to your circadian rhythm, nighttime is for resting, not eating.
Indeed, several animal studies support this theory. Mice that eat in opposition to their circadian rhythm gain significantly more weight than mice that only eat during waking hours, even if they eat the same amount of food.
However, not all studies on humans support this notion.
In fact, studies on humans indicate that it’s not necessarily the time you eat, but how much you eat that matters.
For example, a study on over 1600 children found no link between eating dinner past 8 p.m. and excess weight. In this study, late eaters did not appear to consume more total calories.
However, when researchers tracked the eating habits of 52 adults, they found that those who ate past 8 p.m. consumed more total calories than earlier eaters. The extra calories consumed by late eaters could lead to weight gain over time.
Overall, when your total calorie intake falls within your daily needs, weight gain does not appear to happen merely as a result of eating at night.
Summary: Though several animal studies have linked eating at night to increased weight, human studies show that eating beyond your daily calorie needs leads to weight gain, unrelated to what time of day you eat.
Late eaters tend to eat more
One explanation for the association between eating at night and weight gain is the tendency for late eaters to eat more calories overall.
Regardless of timing, eating more calories than you need will lead to weight gain.
For example, researchers looked at the relationship between meal timing and the total calorie intake of 59 people. Notably, individuals who ate closer to their bedtime ate more calories overall than those who ate their last meal earlier.
Another study found that people who ate between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. consumed roughly 500 more calories per day than those who limited their intake to daytime hours. Over time, the average nighttime eater gained 10 more pounds (4.5 kilograms).
Thus, eating at night may lead to weight gain only if you eat a surplus of calories.
Summary: Those who eat at night tend to eat more and, therefore, consume extra calories. Over time, a surplus of calories can lead to weight gain.
Late eating may affect food choices
Not only do late eaters tend to eat more food, they often make poorer food choices as well.
At night, you may be more likely to choose unhealthy, calorie-dense foods. These are foods with little nutritional value, such as chips, soda, and ice cream.
There are many possible reasons for this. For one, late-night eaters may not have easy access to healthy food.
People who work night shifts are a good example of this. Many studies suggest that night-workers tend to snack on unhealthy foods for convenience, as there may be a lack of healthy options available in the workplace at night.
Emotional eating is another factor leading to poorer food choices at night. It’s important to discern between true hunger and eating due to stress, anxiety, boredom, or sadness.
Suggested read: What are the healthiest times to eat meals?
Furthermore, tiredness has been linked to increased food intake and a desire for high-calorie foods. This may be due to hormonal changes that influence appetite during sleep deprivation.
Again, when it comes to weight gain, what you eat matters more than when you eat. If you eat within your daily calorie needs, you won’t gain weight simply by eating at night.
If you’re truly hungry after dinner, consider choosing nutrient-dense foods and beverages. These are lower-calorie foods with high nutritional value.
Some great options include:
- Carrot and celery sticks with hummus
- Apple slices with a small portion of your favorite nut butter
- Plain air-popped popcorn
- A handful of frozen grapes
Summary: Poor food choices are more likely late at night when fewer healthy options are available. Emotional eating or eating when tired may also lead to poor food choices. Choose nutrient-dense foods if you’re truly hungry after dinner.
Meal timing and frequency
Though the total number of calories you eat is what ultimately affects your weight, research shows that there may be ways to regulate your appetite through meal timing and frequency.
For example, multiple studies indicate that eating a higher-calorie breakfast may keep you fuller longer and possibly prevent overeating at night.
In one study, people eating a 600-calorie breakfast had lower appetites and significantly fewer cravings during the day than those eating 300 calories for breakfast. Especially cravings for sweets were reduced.
Keep in mind that breakfast may not be necessary if you eat late at night — at least not at the traditional time. Follow your hunger cues and you may find yourself eating your first meal later than usual.
You may also want to consider eating smaller meals more frequently. Some, but not all, studies suggest that this may help you manage your appetite and lessen feelings of hunger throughout the day.
Suggested read: 6 ways sleep may help you lose weight
Therefore, changing your meal timing and frequency may be a strategy to reduce overall calorie intake by managing hunger.
Summary: Appetite and cravings may be managed by eating more calories earlier in the day and by eating small and frequent meals. These strategies may prevent overeating at night.
Summary
Physiologically, calories don’t count for more at night.
You won’t gain weight by merely eating later if you eat within your daily calorie needs.
Still, studies show that nighttime eaters typically make poorer food choices and eat more calories, which can lead to weight gain.
If you’re hungry after dinner, chose nutrient-dense foods and low-calorie beverages.
You may also want to consider eating a higher-calorie breakfast or frequent, small meals throughout the day to manage your appetite and stave off late-night cravings.
