Is it a myth that eating before bed makes you put on weight?

Question

I think its a myth, what does everything one else think?

Answer 1

its only because at night your body is inactive so burns less calories, while you will burn off most of your food during the day.

im starving now but have nothing in lol

Answer 2

It is NOT a myth, it's true that your metabolism slows at night, but that's not the most important fact. The problem is that you're intaking caloric values, but you're not active, so those calories have no chance of being burned off before being stored in the body. How does your body store those excess calories? Fat. Meanwhile, the brunt of calories you eat during the day are used up by your regular activities and by your body sustaining itself. While sleeping, you still burn calories in the form of your body taking care of itself, but obviously you're not burning what you do awake. It's not simply a matter of calorie intake for the entire day that matters. 2000 calories at the beginning of the day would impact your body a lot differently than 2000 calories at the end of the day.
If you find yourself getting hungry before bed, try a snack an hour or two before sleep that's high in fiber and protein, that'll keep your stomach feeling full for a while but won't be too big of a calorie bomb.

Answer 3

Ok. This is a myth. Just think it logically.

If the amount of calories you take each 24 hour day remains the same then how can it matter when you take the calories? The only difference is that at night you might store those calories in your body mass but you'll burn them the next day of your body. Your daily energy consumption remains the same so if you don't increase your food consumption the energy will come off your stored mass.

If anything this extra step of energy conversion (from food to body mass) means that some of that food energy will be lost so you'll end up with fewer weight if you only eat at night and use stored body energy for your daily activities.

Answer 4

It is a myth. Typically, though, eating right before bed or late at night is still not suggested. The main reason is that, when you feel hungry later at night, you typically crave higher fat, higher sugar foods. People rarely grab an apple as a midnight snack. It's not the fact that you're eating that causes weight gain or other problems, it's what most people do eat.

Answer 5

I think it's a myth... because for a healthy person weigth gain is about energy in/ energy out....

Besides... you burn cals in your sleep repairing muscle fibre etc.. I get hot in my sleep ... so that burns energy.... Your digestive system doesn't sleep... and that burns energy. Most of the calories you use during a 24 hour period are BMR (basal metabolic rate) calories.. the ones needed to keep your body alive... I suppose half of those are burnt at night.

There are other reasons not to eat before going to bed though... indigestion is one... another is that the increase in sugar levels can keep you awake....

Answer 6

There's nothing inherent in sleep that makes the calories count extra. As it's been explained to me, the issue is that you tend not to do a lot of exercise in your sleep, so it's equivalent to eating and then lying around all day doing close to nothing at all.

When you eat during the day, you tend at the very least to walk around a bit (I hope).

Answer 7

I think eating makes you put on weight, regardless of when you do it.

So if the eating before bed is additional calories that you would not eat at all because you've already eaten all your meals and snacks for the day, then you certainly will gain weight from it.

If you're asking about just eating your dinner really late, I don't think it makes any difference at all.

Answer 8

The truth is your metabolism does slow during periods of inactivity. Most people move around less during the evening which will send your metabolism into a sort of "hibernation-mode". When your body slows like this it becomes more difficult for your body to process sugars, so you should avoid carbs in the evening (only the evening!) and opt instead for protein-rich foods. A good way to boost your metabolism is by eating healthy snacks throughout the day (about every four hours). Then your metabolism doesn't get a chance to slow down into the "hibernation-mode" that I mentioned earlier, and you can have carbs in the evening. DESPITE ALL OF THIS: THIS "HIBERNATION-MODE", ALTHOUGH REAL, MAKES A RELATIVELY LOW-IMPACT ON YOUR WEIGHT. IF YOU EXERCISE AND EAT HEALTHY, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT TIME OF DAY YOU EAT.

Answer 9

I have always been told that this is true (weight training mags etc.) but not really followed it ( shift work etc.) but in last month's muscle and fitness or men's health (cant remember which) there was a in-depth article on this, which basically says that Carbs are more easily turned to fat when sleeping but protein is OK late at night.

Answer 10

It's a myth! Babies and animals usually sleep after meals!

The main reason for not eating at night is not the eating but what you are likely to eat. late night snacks tend to be sweet or salty or high fat foods. You aren't going to prepare a salad are you?
I tried eating late at night to gain weight but it didn't work!
The Doctor said all I was doing was ensuring a broken nights sleep! 4/5 hours later I was visiting the bathroom!

Answer 11

not a myth! dont eat 3 hours before you sleep.
when you sleep, your metabolism slows down, hence u will have extra calories that aint been burnt.just gets stored as fat!
try eating light before u sleep, like me, what i would do is eat light meals during the day, about 6-8 meals, small portions, then i dnt get hungry before i go bed. also eatin 6 times a day boosts ur metabolism like crazy so u wuld lose some fat! hope this helps!