Late-night eating linked to higher liver disease risk

A study involving nearly 200,000 participants has found that eating after dinner or immediately before sleep is associated with a 20–30% higher risk of steatotic liver disease and cirrhosis.

Researchers from Oregon Health & Science University analyzed data from three large American cohorts, including studies of nurses and healthcare professionals. The findings, published in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, suggest that the timing of food intake may be significant regardless of the nutritional content of the meal.

Lead author and hepatologist Robert Willeman noted that the liver is closely linked to circadian rhythms. Co-author Andrew MacHill, a sleep and circadian rhythm expert, added that nighttime eating may disrupt the body's natural biological clock, potentially complicating food processing and contributing to metabolic issues such as obesity and diabetes.

While the study demonstrates a statistical correlation, the authors emphasized that it is an observational study and does not prove that late-night eating directly causes steatosis or cirrhosis. The research also noted a limitation in that dietary habits were self-reported by participants.