Consuming more than 45 percent of daily calories after 5 p.m. may dramatically spike blood sugar levels, potentially increasing risks of Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease—regardless of a person’s weight or body composition.
Meal Timing and Its Impact on Metabolism
The study, published in Nutrition & Diabetes in October, points out the critical role that meal timing plays in regulating health, particularly in relation to glucose levels.The study moves beyond previous research that focused on late-night eating’s link to weight gain, which was attributed to worse dietary choices. Earlier studies indicated that hormones regulating hunger and satiety become altered when meals are consumed outside daytime hours.
However, the recent study suggests that it is the timing of meals that adversely affects glucose metabolism, irrespective of daily calorie intake or an individual’s weight.
The research involved 26 participants aged 50 to 70 years who were either overweight or obese and diagnosed with prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes.
Participants tracked their meals using a mobile app. They were divided into two groups: early eaters, who consumed most calories before evening, and late eaters, who consumed 45 percent or more of their calories after 5 p.m.
Despite having the same calorie intakes from similar food choices, late eaters exhibited worse glucose tolerance, regardless of whether they had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
One explanation might be that the body’s ability to metabolize glucose diminishes at night, according to Díaz-Rizzolo.
“The secretion of insulin is reduced, and our cells’ sensitivity to this hormone declines due to the circadian rhythm, which is determined by a central clock in our brain that is coordinated with the hours of daylight and night,” she said in the statement.
