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.
