What is the Origin of Late Night Eating Impact?

The term stems from the chrononutrition research field, where scientists established that the timing of nutrient delivery significantly affects metabolic outcomes, independent of total caloric intake. Late night eating is defined relative to the individual's endogenous circadian timing, not just clock time. This concept highlights the vulnerability of the metabolic system during the rest phase.

What is the Mechanism of Late Night Eating Impact?

The primary mechanism involves the desynchronization of peripheral clocks, especially those in the liver and pancreas, which are highly sensitive to food-timing signals. During the biological night, the body is physiologically programmed for fasting, with reduced insulin sensitivity and lower activity of key enzymes for fat and glucose metabolism. Eating at this time forces the system to process nutrients when it is metabolically unprepared, leading to exaggerated postprandial hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia, promoting fat storage and increasing metabolic stress.

Late Night Eating Impact ∞ Area

Late Night Eating Impact

Meaning

Late Night Eating Impact refers to the detrimental physiological and metabolic consequences resulting from consuming calories during the biological night, which is typically the body’s habitual fasting and sleep phase. This practice disrupts the alignment between food intake and the circadian rhythm of metabolic organs, leading to a state of internal desynchronization. The clinical outcomes include impaired glucose tolerance, reduced fat oxidation, and increased risk for cardiometabolic diseases.