Many debated whether eating late at night could cause weight gain or not. A study suggests that eating later or after 8 PM is the worst time of the day to eat. This is because eating after 8 PM could lead to weight gain and other health problems.
The study, entitled "Timing Meals Later at Night Can Cause Weight Gain and Impair Fat Metabolism," is conducted by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
The study provides the first evidence on the effects of prolonged delayed eating versus daytime eating. It shows that eating late could raise insulin levels, fasting glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.
Eating Late Could Cause Weight Gain
According to Yahoo Life, the findings suggests that eating could "increase weight, insulin and cholesterol levels, and negatively affect fat metabolism" and "hormonal markers implicated in heart disease, diabetes, and other health problems."
Study lead author Namni Goel, a psychiatry professor at Penn Medicine's division, said that sleep loss studies show that it adversely affects weight and metabolism partly because of late-night eating.
But this new study gives a new light on eating late that also promotes negative effects on weight, energy, and hormone production linked to cardiovascular problems and other health conditions.
In the press release posted in Penn Medicine News, researchers found an increase in weight in those who eat later. Additionally, the team also found that the ratio of carbon dioxide produced by the body to the consumed oxygen rose during delayed eating, which indicates that it metabolizes lesser lipids and more carbs.
Furthermore, the findings also showed that the hormone ghrelin that stimulates appetite peaks during the daytime eating condition and helps people stay satiated longer. This means that eating earlier may help prevent overeating at night.
This supports previous studies and adds to the information that eating after 8 PM or within four hours of sleep is linked to higher BMI. Researchers said that this is due to a higher number of eating occasions.
According to a 2014 study entitled "Meal timing influences daily caloric intake in healthy adults," published in the journal Nutrition Research, later meal timing and shorter duration between the last meal before bedtime leads to higher total caloric intake.
Heavy Dinner Affects Metabolism
It is important not to eat a heavy meal in eating dinner because it could adversely affect the metabolism. Registered dietitian and author of Three Steps to a Healthier You Alissa Rumsey said that greasy and high-fat meals will digest slower and could lead to reflux or heartburn.
Rumsey told Elle that heavy meals would cause the blood to focus more on digestion instead of resting the body while sleeping. A sign that a person has eaten a heavy meal is feeling extra tired and having low energy when they wake up.
Certain foods should be avoided during dinner, like carbohydrates-rich foods as pasta and bread. Also, registered dietitian Farah Fahad said it is best to limit fried foods and desserts during dinner. Both carbohydrates- and sugar-rich foods lead to storing more fat in the body, promoting weight gain.
RELATED ARTICLE: Losing Weight? Experts Say Timing Your Meals is the Best Way
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