Study on late-night eating and liver disease risk

A study involving nearly 200,000 participants across three major US health databases has linked late-night eating to an increased risk of liver disease. Researchers found that individuals who consume food after dinner or right before bedtime face a 20% to 30% higher risk of developing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and cirrhosis.

Lead author Dr. Robert Willemski (also identified as Robert Willeman) of Oregon Health & Science University suggests the connection may be due to disruptions in the body's circadian rhythm, as the liver is closely synchronized with internal biological clocks. Co-author Andrew MacHill, a sleep and circadian rhythm expert, noted 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 findings, published in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, indicate that meal timing may be a significant factor regardless of caloric content, researchers emphasized that the study is observational and relies on self-reported data. Consequently, the research demonstrates a statistical correlation but does not prove that late-night eating directly causes these conditions.