Myth or fact: late night eating causes weight gain?

sophiahenry39
sophiahenry39 Posts: 3 Member
in Food and Nutrition
well I tend to eat more at night as I'm working in the morning n afternoon but I always keep them within my 1200 calorie goal ,I would have fruits for breakfast and some vegetables for lunch dinner is usually some cookies or chips which are bad I know. (my work requires me to be on my feet for 7.5 hours straight)

Replies

  • shrinkingletters
    shrinkingletters Posts: 1,008 Member
    Calories are calories no matter what time of day or night.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    Only if you eat enough to take you over your maintenance
  • thankyou4thevenom
    thankyou4thevenom Posts: 1,581 Member
    If you end up eating more than you should you'll gain. If they're within your goals then you won't.
  • LadyFencer
    LadyFencer Posts: 51 Member
    There were some recent mouse studies showing that mice gained weight more if they didn't have a long period of fasting. The mice that either stayed the same or lost (I forget which) stopped eating earlier in the day, even with the same calorie intake. So it's not true that calories are calories no matter when you eat them. I have read that sumo wrestlers gain weight by eating late in the day, but I haven't verified it.
  • 3bambi3
    3bambi3 Posts: 1,650 Member
    LadyFencer wrote: »
    There were some recent mouse studies showing that mice gained weight more if they didn't have a long period of fasting. The mice that either stayed the same or lost (I forget which) stopped eating earlier in the day, even with the same calorie intake. So it's not true that calories are calories no matter when you eat them. I have read that sumo wrestlers gain weight by eating late in the day, but I haven't verified it.

    Sumo wrestlers gain weight by eating 10,000+ calories a day.

    OP, meal timing is inconsequential to weight loss.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    Only if it leads to overeating. Some people tend to lose control at night or snack more then, so for them it might be helpful to have a firm stop to eating. My only late night eating is my planned dinner and dessert (fits in my calories) so I've lots lots of weight regardless of timing. I don't think skipping dinner because I tend to work late or skipping my evening workouts so I could eat a little earlier would have been helpful.
  • LadyFencer
    LadyFencer Posts: 51 Member
    3bambi3 wrote: »
    LadyFencer wrote: »
    There were some recent mouse studies showing that mice gained weight more if they didn't have a long period of fasting. The mice that either stayed the same or lost (I forget which) stopped eating earlier in the day, even with the same calorie intake. So it's not true that calories are calories no matter when you eat them. I have read that sumo wrestlers gain weight by eating late in the day, but I haven't verified it.

    Sumo wrestlers gain weight by eating 10,000+ calories a day.

    OP, meal timing is inconsequential to weight loss.

    OP, Google "mouse studies meal timing weight gain" for actual scientific studies rather than thoughts on message boards. Meal timing matters. 'Cause science.
  • stevencloser
    stevencloser Posts: 8,911 Member
    LadyFencer wrote: »
    3bambi3 wrote: »
    LadyFencer wrote: »
    There were some recent mouse studies showing that mice gained weight more if they didn't have a long period of fasting. The mice that either stayed the same or lost (I forget which) stopped eating earlier in the day, even with the same calorie intake. So it's not true that calories are calories no matter when you eat them. I have read that sumo wrestlers gain weight by eating late in the day, but I haven't verified it.

    Sumo wrestlers gain weight by eating 10,000+ calories a day.

    OP, meal timing is inconsequential to weight loss.

    OP, Google "mouse studies meal timing weight gain" for actual scientific studies rather than thoughts on message boards. Meal timing matters. 'Cause science.
    Yeah because it had nothing to do with the fact that during the daily exercise sessions the restricted mice ran for twice as long and thus burned more calories.
    Actually reading studies is better than reading what a journalist thinks they say. 'Cause science.
  • jeffpettis
    jeffpettis Posts: 865 Member
    LadyFencer- Google is not always your friend. I am very familiar with the study you are referring to and in a nutshell as stevencloser stated, the study actually showed that the restricted mice burned more calories from activity therefore lost or maintained their weight. This is the problem with most "studies", the control group and the study group must do exactly the same thing except whatever it is your trying to actually study. In other words both groups of mice should have been doing exactly the same activity with the only difference in the groups being meal timing. So in essence the study actually proved calories in calories out. Also, when most "journalist" report on these studies they then interpret them exactly how they want to make their story and most of the time they didn't even read the study themselves.

    So to the OP, meal timing does not matter. If you ate all your daily allotted calories in one meal but still remained under your calorie goal you will lose weight. Period. Of course if you eat all these calories right before you go to bed at night then jump on the scale as soon as you wake up in the morning you will probably be disappointed, but you have to remember that what you are seeing is water retention and undigested food not fat gain.
  • 3bambi3
    3bambi3 Posts: 1,650 Member
    edited May 2015
    LadyFencer wrote: »
    3bambi3 wrote: »
    LadyFencer wrote: »
    There were some recent mouse studies showing that mice gained weight more if they didn't have a long period of fasting. The mice that either stayed the same or lost (I forget which) stopped eating earlier in the day, even with the same calorie intake. So it's not true that calories are calories no matter when you eat them. I have read that sumo wrestlers gain weight by eating late in the day, but I haven't verified it.

    Sumo wrestlers gain weight by eating 10,000+ calories a day.

    OP, meal timing is inconsequential to weight loss.

    OP, Google "mouse studies meal timing weight gain" for actual scientific studies rather than thoughts on message boards. Meal timing matters. 'Cause science.

    You're right. Scientific studies are cool. Here are some, done on actual humans, which show that meal timing doesn't matter. You know, 'cause science.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11319656

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1905998

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9155494

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15085170

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8399092

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8383639

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21123467

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19943985
  • LadyFencer
    LadyFencer Posts: 51 Member
    Um, those studies don't all say that. Are you counting on people not reading them?
    I read scientific studies for a living so I'm well aware of problems with reporting in mainstream press. The mouse studies (there are more than one Jeff) aren't that easily dismissed.
    Also, I looked up info on sumo wrestlers. Like all professional athletes who work out for hours a day, they eat a lot of calories. They also eat later in the day and sleep after meals. So it could be a combination of factors.
    Calorie counts are measured in machines. We are not machines. OP, why don't you try giving up late night snacking for a month and see how it affects you?
  • 3bambi3
    3bambi3 Posts: 1,650 Member
    edited May 2015
    LadyFencer wrote: »
    Um, those studies don't all say that. Are you counting on people not reading them?
    I read scientific studies for a living so I'm well aware of problems with reporting in mainstream press. The mouse studies (there are more than one Jeff) aren't that easily dismissed.
    Also, I looked up info on sumo wrestlers. Like all professional athletes who work out for hours a day, they eat a lot of calories. They also eat later in the day and sleep after meals. So it could be a combination of factors.
    Calorie counts are measured in machines. We are not machines. OP, why don't you try giving up late night snacking for a month and see how it affects you?

    So the studies don't say this?:
    However, there were NS differences between the low- and high-MF groups for adiposity indices, appetite measurements or gut peptides (peptide YY and ghrelin) either before or after the intervention. We conclude that increasing MF does not promote greater body weight loss under the conditions described in the present study.

    or this?
    There was no significant effect of the feeding frequency on the rate of weight loss, fat mass loss or fat-free mass loss. Furthermore, fat mass and fat-free mass contributed equally to weight loss in subjects on both gorging and nibbling diet. Feeding frequency had no significant effect on SMR after two or four weeks of dieting.

    or this?
    There was no significant effect of meal frequency on 24 h EE or ADMR. Furthermore, BMR and ACT did not differ between the two patterns. DIT was significantly elevated in the gorging pattern, but this effect was neutralized by correction for the relevant time interval. With the method used for determination of DIT no significant effect of meal frequency on the contribution of DIT to ADMR could be demonstrated.

    or this?
    We conclude that any effects of meal pattern on the regulation of body weight are likely to be mediated through effects on the food intake side of the energy balance equation.

    or this?
    In the short term, meal frequency and a period of fasting have no major impact on energy intake or expenditure

    I must be seeing things...

    Why don't you post some scientific studies saying that meal timing/frequency matters for weightloss.

    Edited to fix quoting.
  • kgeyser
    kgeyser Posts: 22,505 Member
    LadyFencer wrote: »
    Um, those studies don't all say that. Are you counting on people not reading them?
    I read scientific studies for a living so I'm well aware of problems with reporting in mainstream press. The mouse studies (there are more than one Jeff) aren't that easily dismissed.
    Also, I looked up info on sumo wrestlers. Like all professional athletes who work out for hours a day, they eat a lot of calories. They also eat later in the day and sleep after meals. So it could be a combination of factors.
    Calorie counts are measured in machines. We are not machines. OP, why don't you try giving up late night snacking for a month and see how it affects you?

    She's staying within a 1200 calorie goal, which is already low for a woman. Given that her first two meals consist of only fruit and veggies, which contain little to no fat or protein and barely any carbs, I don't think the problem is that she is eating late at night. What's most likely happening is that she's barely eating during the day, and ends up making less than ideal choices nutritionally at night or overeating because she's freaking starving.

    OP, how are you measuring your intake? You shouldn't be gaining on 1200 calories with your activity level. If you share your stats (height/weight/age/activity level/exercise), we can help you figure out what your intake should be and how to balance that throughout the day so you don't go overboard at night.
  • LiftAllThePizzas
    LiftAllThePizzas Posts: 17,857 Member
    LadyFencer wrote: »
    I read scientific studies for a living
    For who, Daily Mail?

  • MartinTrea
    MartinTrea Posts: 1 Member
    Recently, I figured out that I was eating more after work than during and before. I adjusted my intake during the day to allow for this without exceeding my daily calorie goal. I am losing weight at good clip again. Bottom line, I lose weight no matter what as long as I am under my calorie goal.
  • Michael190lbs
    Michael190lbs Posts: 1,510 Member
    We are so brain washed

    5znskvu30j92.png
  • jeffpettis
    jeffpettis Posts: 865 Member
    Besides all this meal timing nonsense, and I am just making an assumption since you didn't specifically say it in your original post, if the reason your asking about meal timing is your not losing weight then the real issue is you are simply not in a deficit. You must be very accurate with logging and more importantly with making sure what you are logging is correct. It doesn't take much daily error to blow a deficit in the course of a week. That being said, in the grand scheme of things, meal timing still doesn't matter.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,941 Member
    Eh I might as well throw in my anecdotal experience of late night eating. I eat up till 11:30pm every night. Go to sleep about 12:30am or 1am.
    I don't eat breakfast (will on rare occasions like vacations), and first meal is after 12pm.

    Have maintained about the same weight for the last 25 years or so. Oh, along with drinking diet Pepsi.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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  • peachyfuzzle
    peachyfuzzle Posts: 1,122 Member
    I don't generally eat dinner until at least 8:00pm (a lot of times past 10:00pm), which is almost always quite large as I save my calories for then, and snacking after. From 8:00pm - 10:00pm on, my calorie intake is almost always 1000+, and I've managed to lose almost 60lbs now.

    I should probably contact my local news, and medical professionals so I can start making money off of being a medial anomaly. 'cause science.
  • Bobbie63
    Bobbie63 Posts: 55 Member
    To me, you have to do what suits you best. There is a reason farmers and Germans eat their largest meal in the middle of the day and not at dinner (at least it used to be this way). I think it had less to do with weight loss or gain and more to do with having the bulk of the nutrition during the part of the day when they needed it the most. Maybe in all the studies it doesn't matter, but maybe in my body it does. Some people can smoke and lose weight, I can smoke, not eat and not lose any weight. A calorie is a calorie, perhaps, but, I know some calories are better suited to provide energy then others, for me. So....everyone is an expert, for themselves.
  • Bobbie63
    Bobbie63 Posts: 55 Member
    edited May 2015
    no. I'm saying forever people say oh i smoke and that helps me to not eat and i lose weight, but some of us smoke (yes I am disgusted at it too) and we eat, don't eat, and it doesn't seem to matter. I know, I can eat really really low for long periods of time, and not lose weight, but now at 1200 i am. I just think that some people know, they don't seem to process food as well later at night and therefore they should not eat later at night. It could be harder for them to lose weight. Some people can eat more calories and not gain weight, but they seem to have a high metabolism. I think this is so individual that to just say a calorie is a calorie, or all the no late night eating, or people not eating bread..to say it is all junk, is the same as saying one size fits all. A calorie might be a calorie, but what our bodies do with it, I think is very different.
  • marcelo_templario
    marcelo_templario Posts: 653 Member
    shrinkingletters wrote: »
    Calories are calories no matter what time of day or night.

    That.

  • stephanieluvspb
    stephanieluvspb Posts: 997 Member
    I work 3 twelve hour shifts a week, different days, every other weekend. My eating schedule is so off track it isn't even funny, I eat different hours of the day, sometimes eat for 24 hours straight, sometimes fast for 12-13 hours. I have had no problem with losing weight. OP, as long as you stay in your calorie allowance I don't think timing matters.
  • s2mikey
    s2mikey Posts: 146 Member
    Nah, that's a myth. I'd argue that a hi sugar meal right before bed is probably worse than some protein or fat before bed but sugar is worse ANYTIME versus healthier options. I always chow at night. Usually it's some natural nut butter of whatever type I have. I glob it down and then go to bed without being hungry.
  • Michael190lbs
    Michael190lbs Posts: 1,510 Member
    s2mikey wrote: »
    Nah, that's a myth. I'd argue that a hi sugar meal right before bed is probably worse than some protein or fat before bed but sugar is worse ANYTIME versus healthier options. I always chow at night. Usually it's some natural nut butter of whatever type I have. I glob it down and then go to bed without being hungry.

    Although I would love to agree with you the title of the thread is "WEIGHT GAIN" so it is truly about the calories

  • arachnofobia7
    arachnofobia7 Posts: 50 Member
    Slightly different take on late night eating: during the night our body turns into a huge spa, all our cell are mobilised to do ''engeenering works'' on any small and big wear and tear. During the day the cells are busy keeping up with our daily activities, walking, taking, digesting etc,during the sleep when all those major functions stop our body gets time to take care of itself, if we don't sleep long enough or we eat late at night we shorten the maintanance period by distracting cells with digestion or not providing it with sufficient time to ''refurbish'' the body.

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