Late-night eating linked to increased liver disease risk

A major study led by Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) has found a significant link between late-night eating and an increased risk of liver disease. Research involving nearly 200,000 people suggests that regularly consuming food after dinner or close to bedtime is associated with up to a 30% higher risk of developing two specific conditions: metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (fatty liver disease) and cirrhosis.

The findings, published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, highlight the importance of the body's circadian rhythms. Because the liver is closely tuned to these biological clocks, the timing of nutrient intake affects how the body manages glucose and lipids. Disrupting these rhythms through late-night snacking or delayed meals may hinder the body's ability to process nutrients effectively.

Lead author and hepatologist Robert Wilechansky noted that while previous research connected nighttime eating to obesity and heart disease, this analysis explicitly draws a connection to liver health. The study is particularly relevant for populations with disrupted sleep-wake cycles, such as night shift workers, and serves as a reminder that meal timing is a critical factor in metabolic health.