SE5

Keane Lim

WRIT 1133

Professor Eric Leake

13 May 2013

Late Night Eating

            While most people understand the importance of eating three meals a day, the times at which they are eaten are often neglected. Nowadays, society has become increasingly fast-paced, causing eating schedules to be erratic and leading to the development of bad habits. Sometimes, this hyperactivity extends into the night where work hours are long, and parties are held. The habit of late night eating has become more preferential for the nightowl lifestyle, but there are some health implications that people should be aware about.

            First, it is important to define how late is too late for eating. "Exploring the Typology of Night Eating Syndrome" from the International Journal of Eating Disorders defines 7 pm as the beginning cutoff line based off the averages taken by cohort studies from those exhibiting night eating syndrome (Striegel-Moore et al, 411). A group of PhDs at Stockholm University analyzed the link between metabolic diseases and late night eating through a series of correlational studies. "Nocturnal eating causes disturbances of intestinal motility" because the body is programmed to fast and begin the absorption process once it recognizes that it is nighttime (Lowden et al, 150). When we eat late, we confuse our bodies, and the more we do it, the more we decondition our stomach's gestation activity. However, it cannot be completely reprogrammed. Due to the ambiguity of the eating schedule at night, the body maintains a consistent processing in the GI tract because it can no longer anticipate when food will be ingested.

            The most susceptible victims of night eating syndrome are people who work at night, but a more relatable example is student life at DU where all-nighters are pulled and restaurants that are open late at night are nearby. The studies reaffirmed that "the human species is diurnal (i.e. active during the day)," and that there are "circadian biological rhythms" mandated by the hypothalamus (Striegel-Moore et al, 411). "Circadian rhythms" is the term used to define any activity that occurs on a daily cycle like eating and sleeping. By eating late at night, there is a chance of interrupting your biological clock that dictates when you wake up because of the interlink between the circadian rhythms of eating and sleeping. This is why late night eating is associated with "insomnia and sleep disturbance" (Striegel-Moore et al, 417). While once-in-a-while occurences aren't as severe, eating late should not be done consistently because it takes time for the body to adjust itself each time it happens. Due to the reduced amount of sleep, many night eaters develop "morning anorexia" or a lack of appetite upon waking up, which is a precursor to another bad dietary habit, as breakfast remains one of the most important meals of the day (Striegel-Moore et al, 411). Thus, due to the excessive strain on the digestive system, people who eat late at night are at higher risk of metabolic disorders and diseases like "CVD, peptic ulcers, and failure to control blood sugar levels." (Lowden et al).

            Contrary to popular belief, however, the relationship between obesity and night eating is not clearly defined. A study at the University of Québec detailing the role of Circadian genes and obesity in night eaters showed that obesity was more "prevalent in the night eater sample than in the general community" but that there was no definitive relationship due to Circadian genes which make people more or less vulnerable to weight change due to eating at night (Gallant et al, 529). Other studies used to investigate these health implications also agree. While night eating is associated with "high caloric intake, high sodium intake, and low protein intake," Striegel-Moore et al. concluded that both positive and negative correlations with weight change have been recorded in studies, thus far inconclusive.

            The health implications of eating late at night are very relevant to me as a night shift worker for two jobs. If this isn't relevant for you, keep doing what you're doing and eat regularly at reasonable times. If you know someone who could benefit from this knowledge, let them know. It is easy to resolve the problem altogether by eliminating late night eating from your life by managing your time and lifestyle better.

Works Cited

Gallant, A.R., et al. "The night-eating syndrome and obesity." Etiology and            Pathophysiology: Obesity Reviews. June 2012, p. 156-158. Web.

Lowden, Arne, et al. "Eating and shift work - effects on habits, metabolism, and     performance." Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health. Vol. 36,           No. 2. March 2010, p. 150-162. Web.

Striegel-Moore, Ruth, et al. "Exploring the typology of night eating syndrome."     International Journal of Eating Disorders. Vol. 41, No. 5. July 2008, p. 411-418.          Web.