Why Eating Late at Night Is Actually Normal
Updated March 25, 2015.
Eating late at night is not a problem as long as you choose foods that are good for you, and you stay within your daily calorie need. In fact, eating a small carbohydrate-rich snack may help you sleep better at night.
Eating at night becomes more of a problem if you overeat or choose foods that are high in calories, fat, sodium or sugar.
Sometimes eating at night is a scheduled thing. People who work in the afternoons or evenings may eat breakfast late at night and have dinner in the morning.
Perhaps the idea that eating after a certain time of day is bad comes from fad diets, or maybe it stems from concerns about night-eating syndrome (also called sleep eating disorder). People with night-eating syndrome consume at least 25 to 50 percent of their daily calories after their regular dinnertime, almost every night.
Night-eating syndrome patients also tend to suffer from depression, low self-esteem and obesity. If you find that you eat most of your calories at night and you have diabetes, weight related problems, or feel depressed, you need to speak to your health care provider.
Sources:
Morse SA, Ciechanowski PS, Katon WJ, Hirsch IB. "Isn't this just bedtime snacking? The potential adverse effects of night-eating symptoms on treatment adherence and outcomes in patients with diabetes." Diabetes Care. 2006 Aug;29(8):1800-4.
Gluck ME, Geliebter A, Satov T. "Night eating syndrome is associated with depression, low self-esteem, reduced daytime hunger, and less weight loss in obese outpatients." Obes Res. 2001 Apr;9(4):264-7.
Disclaimer: The information contained on this site is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment by a licensed physician. You should seek prompt medical care for any health issues and consult your doctor before taking dietary supplements or making any major dietary changes.
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