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Do you binge eat at night? Here’s how it increases obesity risk

Binge eating at night can be a nightmare if left unattended! Read on to know why you should stop now before its too late.
Avoid mindless eating otherwise it can lead to weight gain. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Arushi Bidhuri Updated: 23 Oct 2023, 11:34 am IST
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How often do you step out of bed at night to sneak a snack? If you have been eating a lot at night, you must watch out! Binge eating can turn into a nightmare pretty quickly, if left ignored. What makes it worse is eating at night as it can lead you to obesity.

If you are wondering how, scroll down to know how binge eating can increase the risk of obesity and diabetes.

Eating at night can up your risk of obesity and diabetes. Image Courtesy: Shutterstock

Binge eating at night can increase obesity, diabetes risk

Several studies have found a link between eating late at night and obesity, however, people tend to overlook this problem. A study published in the journal Current Biology found that disruptions in your circadian rhythm can change fat tissue and lead to obesity. As per the researchers of the study, eating high-carb foods at nighttime can scramble your body clock and lead to problems. The study shows that the relationship between your brain’s biological clock and the pleasure region in your brain that releases the chemical dopamine is disrupted by eating a high-calorie diet. It throws off regular feeding patterns and leads to overeating. However, researchers also stated that snacking anytime can lead to obesity and related health issues.

Using mice as study models, another study published in the journal Science found that ingesting high-fat foods in between meals or during times when they should be resting normally, the extra calories are quickly absorbed as fat. All of this can trigger the onset of unwelcome diseases like diabetes. There’s no doubt that obesity can worsen half of the diseases that affect humans. However more research is required to understand the link further.

Does binge eating at night lead to weight gain? Image Courtesy: Shutterstock

Fatty foods to avoid

Not all fats are bad for your health, but some can lead to irrecoverable consequences. The focus should be on eating the right kind of fats and avoiding harmful “bad” fats. There are: “Good” unsaturated fats, “Bad” trans fats and saturated fats. Foods high in unsaturated fats are good for you. Whereas trans fat can increase disease risk and saturated fat can have a bad impact on your health.

As per the National Institutes of Health, too much unhealthy fat in your diet can lead to the onset of an array of diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, etc. Having said that, here are some of the worst foods that are extremely high in unhealthy fats you should avoid, especially at night.

  • Fatty meats
  • Cream
  • Soft cheese
  • Bacon
  • Poultry
  • Savoury snacks
  • Chocolates
  • Biscuits, cakes, etc.
  • Ice cream

Arushi Bidhuri

Arushi Bidhuri is a journalist with 7 years of experience in writing, editing, and conceptualizing story ideas in different genres, including health and wellness, lifestyle, politics, beauty, fashion, etc. Arushi has a strong connection in the industry that helps her write concise and original stories as she believes in working towards writing pieces that can enlighten people. ...Read More

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