Energy balance
Consuming dinner late at night (during the biological night) reduces the thermic effect of food (TEF) compared to consuming the same meal at a typical dinnertime, contributing to reduced total daily energy expenditure.
Eating your largest meal late at night is less metabolically efficient. Your body burns fewer calories digesting food at night than during the day. If you must eat late, be aware that this reduces the energy cost of your meal, potentially contributing to weight gain if you don't adjust your total intake.
The thermic effect of feeding also decreased in response to a late dinner on the first nightshift.
Why this rating
Controlled inpatient study with precise calorimetry, but limited to one late dinner event on the first nightshift.
Source
Impact of circadian misalignment on energy metabolism during simulated nightshift work
Andrew W. McHill et al. · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2014
DOI 10.1073/pnas.1412021111
More from this paper
- Circadian misalignment during simulated nightshift work reduces total daily energy expenditure by approximately 3% on subsequent nightshift days compared to baseline day schedules, primarily driven by reduced energy expenditure during scheduled sleep periods.Good
- Circadian misalignment alters macronutrient utilization, increasing fat utilization and decreasing carbohydrate and protein utilization on subsequent nightshift days, leading to negative fat balance and positive carbohydrate balance.Good
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