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.

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 in humans support this notion.

In fact, studies in humans indicate that it’s not necessarily the time you eat, but how much you eat that matters ..

For example, a study in 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 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) (9Trusted Source).

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.

Furthermore, tiredness has been linked to increased food intake and a desire for high-calorie foods. This is 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.