Late-night snacking associated with 20%-30% rise in liver disease rates
What Happened
A new study led by Robert Wilechansky at Oregon Health & Science University found that people who regularly eat after dinner or after bedtime face a higher risk of liver disease. Researchers analyzed diet and lifestyle data from nearly 200,000 participants across three large U.S. health studies and found that late-night eaters had a 20% to 30% higher risk of fatty liver disease and cirrhosis compared with those who avoided late-night eating.
Key Takeaways
Researchers believe the link may be related to disruptions in the body's circadian rhythm, which helps regulate liver function and metabolism. The findings suggest that limiting food intake to several hours before bedtime could support liver health, even without changing what people eat.