If you want to lose a few pounds, you can help yourself by eating early. A new study shows that eating later in the day has a variety of adverse effects.
For example, we burn fewer calories, the feeling of hunger increases, and eating late affects the storage of fat in our bodies.
It has previously been shown that there is a link between eating time and weight gain. The scientists now wanted to know the mechanism behind it. “Previous research that we and others have shown has shown that eating later is associated with an increased risk of obesity, increased body fat and reduced weight loss success. We wanted to understand why,” said neuroscientist Frank Sher of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Against Science Alert.
Eating early or late
They found sixteen overweight or obese participants willing to take part in two trials, each lasting six days. In the first experiment, participants adhered to a strict schedule of three meals a day at normal times: breakfast at 9 a.m., lunch at 1 p.m., and dinner around 6 p.m. In the second test, participants ate their first meal at 1 pm and the last at 9 pm.
The results were remarkable: When participants ate food later, their leptin level (which indicates when they were full) was lower for 24 hours. So maybe they were hungry. Also, calories were burned at a slower rate and more fat was stored. It has been modified to accommodate many factors such as sleep, exercise and calorie intake.
Don’t snack
So it appears that eating earlier in the day helps with weight loss, although it remains to be clarified whether other factors underlie the differences. More people should also be tested for a longer period.
But to be on the safe side, it certainly doesn’t hurt to eat early. It will also undoubtedly save calories if you skip your late-night snack.
Sources): Science alert