Is It Bad to Eat Late at Night? (2024)

FAQs

Is It Bad to Eat Late at Night? ›

No conclusive evidence suggests eating at night is automatically harmful to your health — but eating certain foods before bed may disrupt your sleep. In general, experts recommend eating your last meal or snack at least two to three hours before bed to give your body time to digest.

The bottom line. Eating late at night can lead to weight gain and interrupt your sleep. If you need to eat close to bedtime, choose small, healthy snacks so you sleep better.

There is growing scientific evidence that eating too late at night could make it harder to manage your weight. But if you're truly hungry, a small, nutrient-rich snack with less than 200 calories is generally fine at night. Some snacks even contain compounds that might help you sleep better.

Experts recommend waiting at least three hours after you've eaten to go to bed. This allows your body time to digest your food so you're not up at night with an upset stomach, indigestion, or acid reflux. And it helps you stay asleep.

Is it bad to eat at night? It depends on what you eat. Planned healthy snacks that contain protein and fiber can actually be beneficial, but late-night binges won't do your body any good. As long as you don't eat too many calories and stick to healthy eating habits, it's generally okay to eat whenever you want.

Research suggests that, if possible, it's best to avoid eating for three to four hours before your usual bedtime, Dr. St-Onge said. That timing is likely better for your long-term health, and may also reduce symptoms of acid reflux, which can interfere with sleep, Dr.

While we encourage you to avoid late-night snacking, we also discourage you from going to bed while hungry. Your body constantly needs energy to function, even during sleep. Going to bed without a last meal means your body has less energy to rejuvenate and repair itself.

Though going to bed hungry can help with sleep and weight loss, lack of access to food can actually increase your risk of obesity, asthma, and other health problems.

Going to bed on an empty stomach can leave your stomach empty or wanting to be filled. However, going to bed hungry is considered healthier than eating too close to bedtime. Eating right before bedtime or having a late dinner can lead to increased body mass index (BMI), indigestion or insomnia.

Compared to eating earlier in the day, prolonged delayed eating can increase weight, insulin and cholesterol levels, and negatively affect fat metabolism, and hormonal markers implicated in heart disease, diabetes and other health problems, according to results from researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the ...

Is it bad to lie down after eating? ›

Lying down after eating can cause indigestion due to increased stomach acid. In case of GERD, you should avoid lying down for 3 hours after eating. In contrast, you should lie down immediately after eating for 1 hour or longer when postprandial hypotension occurs.

While eating before bed may not be the best idea for some people, it can benefit others — it may actually curb nighttime eating and aid weight loss. Some evidence suggests that, rather than causing weight gain, eating a bedtime snack may help some people lose weight.

Eating too close to when you go to sleep can lead to acid reflux, indigestion, poor sleep, and even weight gain. Experts recommend waiting two to three hours after eating solid foods before going to sleep.

A recent study published in the research journal Cell Metabolism showed that eating later in the day resulted in increased hunger and a decrease in leptin — a hormone that makes you feel full — and may contribute to an increased risk for obesity.

“If you are hungry, you should eat something, regardless of the time of day,” says Aimee Takamura, registered dietitian and director of wellness and sustainability at Restaurant Associates. “The act of eating late at night does not affect metabolism or lead to many of the adverse effects you may have heard of.

Late-night snacks can contribute to weight gain if they're high in calories, added sugar and saturated fats. Mindless snacking while watching TV or before bed can cause excess calorie intake, which may lead to weight gain over time.

Eating later in the evening is often associated with weight gain. While eating later into the evening can affect digestion, experts note that what you're eating is more important than when you're eating when it comes to healthy habits.

Eating later in the day increased participants' hunger, decreased the number of calories they burned, and promoted fat storage. Over time, those effects could lead to weight gain. So while it won't hurt to have an occasional late supper, try not to make it a habit.

What's the best time to stop eating before bed? It's best to stop eating about three hours before going to bed. That allows plenty of time for your body to digest the last food you ate so it won't disrupt your sleep, but leaves a small enough window before sleep that you won't go to bed feeling hungry.

Scientists have discovered that avoiding late-night eating may help reduce aging markers in muscles and the gut, as well as significantly increase lifespan. You can advise patients to eat in accordance with their circadian rhythms by avoiding food 3 hours prior to sleeping.