Does eating food just before bedtime cause a person to put on excess weight?
Question
#75885. Asked by star_gazer. (Feb 14 07 9:59 PM)
skysmom65
The human digestive system was remarkably efficient at absorbing nutrients, perhaps in response to evolutionary pressure. The idea was that our evolutionary ancestors were hunters and gatherers who had to adapt to long periods of time between meals. As a result, they evolved to waste very little of any meal they were fortunate enough to find. Physiological studies support the notion that what humans consume is quickly broken down into its basic components (including carbohydrate, protein and fat) and used or stored as needed.
I've found no evidence that the way we digest food or store it varies based on the time of day or how close feeding time is to bedtime.
Very good skymom! It is a popular myth that if a person eats just before bedtime they will gain more weight.
Myth: Calories eaten after 8PM turn to fat.
Fact: This is an urban legend that is no more true than the notion that alligators are roaming the sewers of New York City, says Liz Neporent, trainer and author of 'The Fat-Free Truth.' The fact of the matter is if you eat more calories than your body burns in a day, the excess calories will be stored as fat. Whether you consume them during 'Good Morning America' or 'Letterman' doesn't matter; there is no intrinsic connection between calories and the clock.
Not as far as absorption is concerned. The fact that there is not physical activity during sleep hours (minimal at best) does put one a bit "behind the Eight-Ball" when it comes to burning those calories!
So....Eating before bed could very well contribute to unnecessary weight gain.
Feb 16 07, 1:32 PM
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