The Science of Deliciously Good Health

Sometimes there’s nothing better than a midnight snack attack. Eating spoonfuls of jam straight out of the jar, fingerlings of peanut butter, or a handful of shredded cheddar doesn’t seem quite so decadent – or discusting – after pumpkin hour has passed. But, barbarian antics aside, it seems late night snack snaffling could prove to pile on the pounds. 

According to the Science Daily, “A Northwestern University study has found that eating at irregular times – the equivalent of the middle of the night for humans, when the body wants to sleep – influences weight gain. The regulation of energy by the body’s circadian rhythms may play a significant role. The study is the first causal evidence linking meal timing and increased weight gain.

Simply modifying the time of feeding alone can greatly affect body weight, the researchers found. Mice that were fed a high-fat diet during normal sleeping hours gained significantly more weight (a 48 percent weight increase over their baseline) than mice eating the same type and amount of food during naturally wakeful hours (a 20 percent increase over their baseline). There was no statistical difference between the two groups regarding caloric intake or the amount of activity.

Our circadian clock, or biological timing system, governs our daily cycles of feeding, activity and sleep, with respect to external dark and light cycles. Recent studies have found the body’s internal clock also regulates energy use, suggesting the timing of meals may matter in the balance between caloric intake and expenditure.”

Click here to read the full article in the Science Daily.

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