Late-Night Eating Impairs Glucose Tolerance, Study Finds

Researchers from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) and Columbia University found that late-night eating impacts glucose tolerance in adults with obesity, prediabetes, or Type 2 diabetes. Their findings show that consuming a higher proportion of daily calories after 5 p.m. is associated with poorer glucose metabolism, independent of body weight, fat mass, or diet composition. 

The study suggests that even when controlling for total calorie consumption and body composition, meal timing alone may adversely affect glucose tolerance. The study analyzed older adults with prediabetes or early-stage Type 2 diabetes who habitually consumed a significant portion of their daily calories in the evening. 

Results showed that late eaters exhibited poorer glucose metabolism compared to those who ate earlier in the day, a trend consistent with findings from short-term trials in healthy individuals. These trials demonstrated worse glucose tolerance and reduced resting energy expenditure when meals were concentrated in the evening rather than the morning.

The study also says that late eaters tended to choose processed, carbohydrate and fat-rich foods during evening hours. This dietary pattern may exacerbate glucose metabolism issues by desynchronizing the body's circadian system. Prolonged evening glucose excursions could contribute further to metabolic challenges.

The study, however, had a small sample size and focused on individuals with prolonged eating windows, which could limit generalizability. It also relied on self-reported data for meal timing, which introduces potential reporting errors. Future research in more diverse populations is necessary to confirm and expand upon these results.

Diabetes ranks among the leading public health challenges in Mexico, affecting over 18% of the population as of 2022, as reported by MBN. “In Mexico, diabetes is considered a health crisis, and its prevalence is increasing especially after COVID-19,” says  Karla Alcazar, President and General Manager, Eli Lilly Latin America.

Obesity also remains a significant public health issue in the country, and can also lead to the development of Type 2 diabetes, among other complications. A recent study analyzing data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey (ENSANUT) 2020-2023 reveals that 37.1% of Mexican adults are obese. The findings underscore a growing public health concern, particularly among women, who are more likely to be affected by obesity than men, as reported by Mexico’s National Institute of Public Health.

Mexico has made several efforts in fighting obesity and diabetes, such as the introduction of front-of-package labeling implemented in October 2020. However, while labeling ultra-processed foods is helpful, informed decisions often remain out of reach due to ignorance or financial constraints, explains Mijail Tapia, Founder, YouTube Channel Dr. Mijail Tapia.

“The external causes of the problem require policies at the public health level that favor an environment that contributes to the preservation of health and that seeks to transition from the obesogenic environment to a leptogenic environment," says Tapia.