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does eating before bed make you gain weight

by Nathanael Waelchi Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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This myth has been around for years, and although some people could swear that their late-night eating habits do make them gain weight, recent research has shown that your body doesn't process food differently at different times of the day.

Full Answer

What are the side effects of eating before bed?

  • heartburn
  • a lump in the throat
  • difficulty swallowing
  • dental erosions
  • laryngitis
  • chronic cough

Does eating before you sleep make you gain weight?

The reason eating before sleep is tied to weight gain is because if you wait to eat until late at night, it can lead to overeating. Yet remember, it’s the food that is making you fat in this case, not the fact that you’re eating before bed. If you must eat later at night, plan your meals out ahead of time and don’t eat more than you intended.

Can I eat before bed without gaining weight?

You should definitely try some of these pieces of advice before you stress your stomach. Here are 4 foods to eat before bedtime without gaining weight: Low-calorie cheese; Magnesium found in cheese helps your heart, muscles, and provides a high-quality sleep. You can also combine it with crackers, or double-baked bread.

What to eat just before bedtime to lose weight?

What to Eat before Bedtime to Lose Weight?

  • Brush your teeth after dinner. ...
  • Never ever make dinner your biggest meal of the day. ...
  • Eat balanced dinner – the key to self-control after dinner food cravings. ...
  • Make yourself busy after dinner. ...
  • Eat a small snack immediately after dinner. ...

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Will I gain weight if I eat right before bed?

It turns out that people who eat before bed are more likely to gain weight simply because a bedtime snack is an extra meal and, therefore, extra calories. Not only that, but the evening is the time of day when some tend to feel the hungriest.

Why do you gain more weight when you eat at night?

Thus, eating at night may lead to weight gain only if you eat a surplus of calories. 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.

What time should you stop eating to lose weight?

If you want to maintain or lose weight, then you shouldn't eat after 7 p.m. There are myriad reasons why people might not want to eat after a certain time in the evening, especially if it's close to when they go to sleep, says Cara Harbstreet, M.S., R.D., L.D., owner of Street Smart Nutrition..

Is eating after 8pm causes weight gain?

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 ...

Why do people eat before bed?

It turns out that people who eat before bed are more likely to gain weight simply because a bedtime snack is an extra meal and, therefore, extra calories. Not only that, but the evening is the time of day when some tend to feel the hungriest.

Why do we snack after dinner?

If you’re someone who tends to eat a big portion of your calories after dinner, having a structured snack after dinner instead of continually “grazing” can help to manage your appetite and may prevent overeating ( 12 , 13 ).

What percentage of people have gastroesophageal reflux disease?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common condition that affects 18.1 to 27.8 percent of people in the United States. It happens when gastric contents such as stomach acid splash back into your throat ( 10#N#Trusted Source#N#).

What to eat if you have a sweet tooth?

If you have a sweet tooth, try some berries or a few squares of dark chocolate (unless the caffeine bothers you). Or, if salty snacks are what you prefer, have a handful of nuts instead.

What happens to blood sugar in the morning?

In the morning, your liver starts to produce extra glucose (blood sugar), which provides you with the energy you need to start the day. This process causes scarcely any change in blood sugar for people without diabetes.

What happens in the morning when you have a lot of energy?

In the morning, your liver starts to produce extra glucose (blood sugar), which provides you with the energy you need to start the day.

Does eating before bed help you lose weight?

This often comes from the belief that eating before you go to sleep leads to weight gain. However, some claim that a bedtime snack can actually support a weight loss diet.

How to keep from overeating?

To keep from overeating, pay attention to your food while eating, avoid eating in front of the TV, and choose a portion-controlled snack. Some good options are packaged 100 calorie snacks, small servings of popcorn, ice cream bars, low-fat yogurt or fruit.

Why do people eat at night?

People eat at night for a variety of reasons that often have little to do with hunger, from satisfying cravings to coping with boredom or stress. And after-dinner snacks tend not to be controlled. They often consist of large portions of high-calorie foods (like chips, cookies, candy), eaten while sitting in front of the television or computer. In this situation, it’s all too easy to consume the entire bag, carton, or container before you realize it. Besides those unnecessary extra calories, eating too close to bedtime can cause indigestion and sleeping problems.

Who said eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper?

Years ago, nutrition pioneer Adele Davis gave her well-known advice to “eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper.”. Yet the conventional wisdom today is that a calorie is a calorie, regardless of when you eat it, and that what causes weight gain is simply eating more calories than you burn.

Can eating too close to bed cause indigestion?

Besides those unnecessary extra calories, eating too close to bedtime can cause indigestion and sleeping problems. Continued. (This type of nighttime eating is not to be confused with the medical condition “ night eating syndrome,” which requires professional medical attention.)

Who is Kathleen Zelman?

Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD, is director of nutrition for WebMD. Her opinions and conclusions are her own.

Does it matter what time of day you eat?

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Weight ControlInformation Network web site, “it does not matter what time of day you eat. It is what and how much you eat and how much physical activityyou do during the whole day that determines whether you gain, lose, or maintain your weight.”.

Why Do We Think Late Night Eating Makes Us Fat?

The main reason it’s a bad idea to eat at night as opposed to during regular hours of the day is that nighttime eaters tend to make poorer choices about the food they put into their bodies. It’s really that simple.

The Truth About Night Eating & Weight Gain

If you go over your calorie budget for the day, you’ll gain weight. If you don’t know your calorie budget, the simple equation I teach people to follow is this:

Intermittent Fasting

I follow an intermittent fasting lifestyle, and while it’s not the same as eating in the middle of the night, it is a major shift in the hours of the day that you eat.

The Truth About Weight Loss

If you’re interested in losing weight, then it’s very simple. There’s no need to diet or follow any kind of fad eating plan. All that’s required is getting yourself into a simple calorie deficit.

Night Time Weight Gain In Summary

So, does eating before bed cause weight gain? The answer to that is no, it doesn’t. However, because late-night eaters tend to overindulge and take in more calories than those who eat earlier in the day, it’s a good idea to avoid nighttime eating if you feel you don’t have the ability to resist cravings.

How to control cravings and appetite?

Appetite and cravings may be managed by eating more calories earlier in the day and by eating small and frequent meals. These strategies may prevent overeating at night.

Why do people gain weight at night?

One explanation for the association between eating at night and weight gain is the tendency for late eaters to eat more calories overall.

How does meal timing affect calories?

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 ( 8 ).

Why is eating at night bad for you?

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 ( 1 ). According to your circadian rhythm, nighttime is for resting, not eating. Indeed, several animal studies support this theory.

How to manage late night cravings?

You may also want to consider eating a higher-calorie breakfast or frequent, small meals throughout the day to manage appetite and stave off late-night cravings.

What to do when you're hungry after dinner?

If you’re truly hungry after dinner, consider choosing nutrient-dense foods and beverages. These are lower-calorie foods with high nutritional value.

Do late eaters consume more calories?

In this study, late eaters did not appear to consume more total calories ( 7. Trusted Source. ). 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.

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28 hours ago Not necessarily. While there is a belief that eating before bed leads to weight gain, research supports both sides. “Nighttime eating is a controversial topic, for sure,” says Nathalie Rhone, …

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31 hours ago Northwestern University researchers found that eating at night led to twice as much weight gain -- even when total calories consumed were the same.

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3 hours ago So, does eating before bed cause weight gain? The answer to that is no, it doesn’t. However, because late-night eaters tend to overindulge and take in more calories than those who eat …

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36 hours ago  · Over time, the average nighttime eater gained 10 more pounds (4.5 kilograms) ( 9 ). Thus, eating at night may lead to weight gain only if you eat a surplus of calories. Summary …

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