Researchers have found in a study that consuming at least 45% of daily calories after 5 PM can impair the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels. Additionally, eating late at night can significantly increase the risk of diabetes.
The research conducted by the University Oberta de Catalunya in Barcelona and Columbia University provides scientific evidence for time-restricted diets, which recommend avoiding eating after the evening.
Around 10% of Americans follow time-restricted eating schedules, often consuming food within a six-hour window (from 11 AM to 5 PM), with most of their intake occurring earlier in the day.
Dr. Diana Díaz Rizzolo, a co-author of the study, explained that the body’s ability to process glucose is limited at night because insulin secretion decreases, and due to the circadian rhythm (the body’s internal clock), the cells become less sensitive to the hormone.
The study, published in Nutrition and Diabetes, focused on 26 individuals aged 50 to 75 who were either overweight, obese, or had pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes. They were divided into two groups: early eaters and late eaters, and given the same diet in equal amounts but at different times.
The study found that those who ate more after 5 PM had higher glucose levels after testing.
