Are you someone who stays up late and tends to eat your biggest meals at night? A study published in Frontiers in Nutrition suggests that evening chronotypes, or “night owls”, may have a higher body fat percentage and greater abdominal fat when they consume more energy, carbohydrates and fats late at night. Researchers say the body’s biological clock can influence eating patterns, behaviour and metabolism.
The study examined 287 women aged 18 to 45 from Europe and Pacific New Zealand, comparing morning and evening chronotypes. Although both groups consumed similar amounts of energy overall, their eating schedules were different. Evening-type participants ate less during the morning but consumed more food between 8pm and 2:59am, with a greater proportion of energy, carbohydrates and fats coming later in the day.
Researchers found that higher evening energy and macronutrient intake among evening chronotypes was associated with higher body fat percentage and a higher android-to-gynoid fat ratio. The findings suggest that when you eat may matter alongside what you eat, particularly for people who regularly eat late at night. The researchers noted that reducing late-night food intake could potentially support healthier metabolic outcomes, although the study shows an association rather than proving that late-night eating directly causes weight gain.
