Saed News: Nutrition experts warn that the habit of consuming heavy meals late at night can negatively affect sleep quality, hormone regulation, blood sugar control, and weight management.
According to SAEDNEWS, in today’s busy world, many people do not have enough time to eat regular meals during the day due to long working hours, business meetings, time differences with other countries, or a hectic lifestyle. Some also delay hunger by constantly drinking tea and coffee or skipping meals, and eventually end up having a heavy meal late at night due to intense hunger.
Experts say that although occasionally eating a late meal is usually not a problem, turning it into a daily habit can have health consequences, including sleep disruption, changes in appetite regulation, reduced blood sugar control, and more difficulty managing weight in the long term.
Nutrition specialist Mitushi Ajmera explains that the human body follows a natural biological clock called the “circadian rhythm.” This rhythm plays an important role in regulating processes such as digestion, insulin sensitivity, hunger hormones, and energy use.
According to her, the body is more sensitive to insulin in the early hours of the day and can convert carbohydrates and other nutrients into energy more efficiently. However, as the day progresses, this sensitivity gradually decreases, and the body becomes less efficient at processing large meals.
For this reason, a large meal in the morning is usually better tolerated by the body than the same meal late at night. Eating earlier in the day can also help with better blood sugar control and more efficient energy use.
However, Ajmera emphasizes that eating after 8 PM is not, by itself, the cause of weight gain or hormonal damage. She says more important factors include total daily calorie intake, food quality, sleep quality, stress levels, physical activity, and consistency of eating patterns.
In her view, the main issue for many people is not simply meal timing, but a pattern that includes long periods of fasting followed by nighttime overeating, excess calorie intake, and poor sleep. Such conditions can lead to weight gain and metabolic disruption.
Experts recommend that instead of following strict or fear-based rules, people should consume a balanced and nutritious dinner with enough time before sleep. This approach is more sustainable and healthier than skipping meals or overeating late at night.
Specialists emphasize that for weight loss or maintaining health, what matters more than the exact timing of meals is the quality of the diet, nutritional balance, and having a consistent eating pattern.
