FAQ: Will eating late make me gain weight?

For a long time, “calories in vs. calories out” was the prevailing theme in weight loss. Meaning, if you take in less calories than you burn, you’ll lose weight regardless of when those calories are consumed. Some researchers, however, are building a case for looking at the timing of meals and snacks in relation to weight management (1, 2). Though they still aren’t sure exactly why, calories consumed later in the day may end up being stored as fat. This may be due to changes in our appetite hormones, digestion, metabolism, or energy expenditure. So, how late is too late to eat? One study suggests that 8p might be a good cut off point (3). Those who went to bed later at night consumed on average 248 more calories per day after 8p compared with those who went to bed earlier and avoided eating late. This is a great opportunity for self-experimentation. Try adjusting the timing of your meals to avoid eating after 8p. You can also try making your earlier meals larger and your evening meal smaller. Observe how these changes affect your weight loss efforts, energy, digestion and your hunger/fullness. A change in timing just might give you the edge you need to reach your goals!