Late Nights, Food, Drinks, and Obesity

Here’s a fun new study. Researchers the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) have found that late nights, food, drinks, and a risk of obesity might go hand in hand — or maybe hand to mouth. More specifically they found that when people stay up late, they do more eating and drinking. The authors of this study explain:

Our results potentially uncover an additional pathway to obesity, namely that short-sleepers are more likely to eat and drink while engaged in another, primary activity. There is evidence that individuals who are engaged in distracted eating, eating while engaged in other activities, do not feel as full and are more likely to snack later in the day than individuals who primarily focus on eating.

To be sure, this is an epidemiological study that flags risks, not cause and effect. So if you want to tell yourself that there’s no harm in late nights, spent distracted by who knows what, while consuming beer and bar food, feel free.

The folks at UAB are just reporting a possible risk.

Click here to read the study.

Close Up Pint, photograph © Peter Morgan / flickr

Subscribe by email to follow the accumulating evidence and observations that shape our view of health, obesity, and policy.

november 25, 2015