Will Eating at Night Make Me Gain Weight?

Forget the boogeyman — eating directly before bedtime can cause nightmares, too, and these ones feature expanding waistlines. Recent studies have suggested a range of connections between late night eating and weight gain, but does consuming calories after sunset really lead to a bigger gut?

The Midnight Munchies — Why It Matters

Eating before bed has long been touted as a cardinal sin of weight loss, leading some weight-conscious individuals to forgo any food after 8 pm. One study with more than 400 participants found that nocturnal snacking was associated with higher body mass index (aka BMI)  [1]. Several other studies found that eating food when a body should be at rest can be detrimental. One study found that mice — our smaller, furrier, nocturnal friends — gained significantly more weight when fed during the day, when they'd normally be asleep. The results were a loose proxy for what can happen when humans eat a bunch of calories at night (when we'd normally be asleep) [2]. When the mice were allowed to eat whenever they wanted — on a controlled amount of calories during an 8-hour window — the risk of metabolic diseases increased signficantly [3].
But other studies seem to contradict the notion that nighttime binges lead to expanding waistlines, at least in primates. A study on monkeys found those consuming the majority of their calories later at night were no more likely to gain weight than their day-eating companions. So is eating at night actually monkey business? While evening calories may not be the main culprit, late night splurges can influence other factors that have been shown to tack on a few pounds. Those who eat most of their calories after 8 pm may experience poor sleep quality following their binge sessions [4]. (And poor sleep is associated with future weight gain and obesity [5].) Finally, a reason for an afternoon nap! Apart from interrupting snore — err, we mean sleep — cycles, late night eaters tend to munch on high-calorie snacks and often end up exceeding their recommended daily caloric intake. In addition, nighttime snacking tends to take place in front of the TV, where overeating is all too easy.

Sweet Dreams — The Answer/Debate

Eating directly before bed may lead to weight gain, but researchers haven't pinpointed the exact culprit. Sleep and calorie source seem to be the two main villains. It turns out our bodies are generally better able to metabolize food at certain times of day (read: not nighttime). Studies indicate that late night calories impact sleep cycles, throwing off normal body rhythm and packing on the pounds [4] [5].
Focus on improving sleep quality by avoiding high sugar foods directly before bed and kicking the late-night TV habit for a book. (Or at least ditch the TV-time snack…) Have a hankering for sugar? It's easy to reach for high-sugar, high-fat foods to curb cravings late at night, which can cause calorie intake to skyrocket, mainly due to decreased activity and more couch time. If that bedtime snack is a necessity, reach for healthier options (think low-fat dairy products, low-sugar fruit, and veggies) and pass up the frozen bagel bites in favor of something self-prepared [8].

the EXPERTS' TAKE:

We asked our Greatist experts to give their thoughts on the subject. Here's what they had to say:

Lisa Moskovitz: "Since the appetite-regulating hormone ghrelin is better regulated in the morning, it is easier to prevent overeating during the day versus at night. This means that the body's ability to feel full is much stronger in the morning, so we stop eating sooner.

Generally I tell people the most important aspect for managing weight is balancing the number of calories they take in versus the calories that are burned. This is especially true for people who exercise at night or work late hours — they might actually need to eat after 8pm. The time of day is not as important as how eating is timed within each individual's sleep/wake cycle.

Overall, it is better to focus on how often you eat and exactly what you're eating. To support healthy metabolism, and digestion, and manage energy and weight, it's typically best to eat every three or four hours, have breakfast within one or two hours of waking, and stop eating one or two hours before bedtime. And always include some lean protein and fiber-rich complex carbs with every meal and snack."