Myth: Eating late at night makes you fat

It is hard to resist the temptation of a snack before bedtime, whether it is ice-cream, cheesecake or a sandwich. However, a commonly held belief is that eating immediately prior to bed will lead to an increase in fat intake, particularly when the food is high in fat or sugar. Consuming a large amount of energy before sleep will result in this energy being stored as fat, as this energy is not required to sleep. However, this does not mean that consuming this food at any other time will result in a smaller waistline.

The body depends on calories for energy. Consuming a higher amount of calories than required will result in a weight gain, while consuming a lower amount of calories than required will result in weight loss. In theory, it doesn’t matter when these calories are consumed, as the body will use them when they are required. There are no studies which conclusively show that an increase in food consumed at night leads to an increased waistline. However, it is important to ensure that one follows an appropriate diet, through eating many different foods and eating over consistent intervals.