Skinny Myths

Skinny Myth:  "Eating at Night Causes Weight Gain"

Recent research shows that time of day doesn’t affect the way your body processes calories. 

Total calorie intake and calories expended are what affect weight.

BUT…people may often eat higher calorie foods like deserts at night, which can contribute to excessive calorie intake.

• Night eating and weight change in middle-aged men and women.
  Andersen GS, Stunkard AJ, Sørensen TI, Petersen L, Heitmann BL
  Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord
  Oct 2004 (Vol. 28, Issue 10, Pages 1338-43)
  
  
• Evidence in female rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) that nighttime caloric intake is not associated with weight gain.
  Sullivan EL, Daniels AJ, Koegler FH, Cameron JL
  Obes Res
  Dec 2005 (Vol. 13, Issue 12, Pages 2072-80)
  
  
• Rudis, J. True or False:  Eating at Night Will Make you Gain Weight? Available: http://www.elib.gov.ph/edatabase/elibgetdb.php/http/healthlibrary.epnet.com/print.aspx?token=de6453e6-8aa2-4e28-b56c-5e30699d7b3c&chunkiid=156995