Is it OK to Eat After 8 p.m.? (Ask the RD) | MyFitnessPal

Eating at night won’t technically make you gain weight, but it’s still good to be cautious about snacking after dinner.

Do you worry that eating late at night will cause you to gain weight? Registered Dietitian Whitney English shares why, even though that theory is technically inaccurate, it’s also not completely off base.

Research shows that eating late at night does not put you at any greater risk for gaining weight than eating the same meal earlier in the day. It’s the amount of calories you consume, not the time of day you consume them that affects weight gain or loss.

However, the time of day you eat can result in weight gain for other reasons:

- People tend to eat more late at night than they would at other times of day.
- People don’t always choose the most nutritious late night snacks.

Studies show that when people are restricted to a set period of time to eat, like 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. rather than around the clock, they tend to eat less overall. This may have other benefits, like:

- A better metabolic profile
- Reducing the risk of chronic disease

So, while a calorie is a calorie no matter what time of day it is consumed, it may still be beneficial to limit those late night snacks.

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[dadgarc]

Love this credible information!! That sounds sarcastic but it’s hard to find now a days so answering these question we all have is very helpful.💯💯

[merakrut]

I love to eat After Eight. Soft sweet mint covered with dark chocolate,

[annainspain]

Depends where and how you live. In S. Europe most people don't even sit down to their even meal till 9 pm or even 10, because they often get off work at 8pm. The world is not America and America is not the world.

[ThisReckless]

Eat like a spartan. 12-8pm.

Only thing I eat after 8pm is peas or green beans to shut down my digestion.