Turns out it’s not a lack of will power that sends us to the fridge at night. A study published in the journal Obesity suggests that its our body’s own internal clock that’s responsible for late night hunger pangs and cravings for sweet, starchy and salty foods.
And since the body handles food differently at night, it’s likely that those extra calories will wind up on our hips.
“If weight loss is a goal, it’s probably better to eat your larger, higher-calorie meals earlier in the day,” said Steven Shea, senior author of the study. “Knowing how your body operates will help you make better choices. Going to bed earlier, getting enough sleep and choosing lower-calorie foods rather than higher-calorie foods in the evening can all help with weight loss.”
The study found that the internal clock (circadian rhythms) of the study subjects (12 healthy non-obese adults) left them feeling least hungry at 8 a.m. and most hungry at 8 pm.
“Our study suggests that because of the internal circadian regulation of appetite, we have a natural tendency to skip breakfast in favor of larger meals in the evening. This pattern of food intake across the day is exactly what Sumo wrestlers do to gain weight.” said Shea. “So, it seems likely that the internal circadian system helps with efficient food storage. While this may have been valuable throughout evolution, nowadays it is likely to contribute to the national epidemic of obesity.”