Fact or Fiction: Eating Before Bed Makes You Gain Weight

It's one of those well-known questions that just never seems to be solved: will eating before bed really make you gain weight? This lingering myth that haunts both dieters and concerned parents alike is one that we wanted the 411 on. The reasoning behind the widespread rumor is easy: you eat, fall asleep and the food that would normally be used for fuel is instead stored as fat-resulting in weight gain. With the rising threat of childhood obesity and constant need to lose just "a few more pounds", knowing the truth behind this tale could definitely come in handy. But according to a report from the faculty at the Harvard Medical School, there are a lot of factors that play into this tale. Here's the scoop on the importance of the time of day you dine and some expert advice on how much fact is behind this before bed feeding frenzy.

Start the day right

Research from a 2003 study done by the University of Massachusetts shows that people who skip breakfast had a higher rate of obesity than those who have something to eat every morning. So even if the kids claim that they aren't hungry before they run out the door in the morning (and this is SO common among the high schoolers especially) make sure they, at the very least, grab a cereal bar. Another study that was conducted in 2004 showed that people who ate a good meal in the morning ate less throughout the remainder of the day, while people who skipped breakfast and tended to eat more at night generally consumed more food throughout the day.

Spread out your meals

The important thing may not be when you eat, but how you eat the food you consume throughout the day. If you eat a couple of large meals throughout the day, you may be more apt to crave food before you fall asleep. To avoid filling up before your head hits the pillow (which has been linked to bad dreams and disrupted sleep) try switching up your food routine. Break large meals into five or six smaller ones, which will keep you satisfied for longer periods of time, eliminating the hunger pains you may feel right before bed (and you know you're going straight for the Oreo's!)

So-is it true?

Yes and no. Eating food before bad CAN in fact contribute to weight gain, simply because you're consuming calories, some of which may not be as healthy as the choices you made earlier in the day. But does eating at that time of day mean you will gain MORE weight than if you were to eat the same snack mid day? No. However, NES (Night Eating Syndrome) is an eating disorder where the person consumes at least half of their calories for the day after dinner (mostly carbs and starchy food). This disorder does lead to weight gain. According to Newsweek Health, one study showed as many as 28% of people seeking gastric bypass surgery suffered from NES.

What we say

Our bottom line is this: always eat in the morning, make time for at least three, well-balanced meals a day, snack only when you're hungry and avoid chowing down before bed (especially if you suffer from Acid Reflux or already have trouble sleeping). And although it can't be proved that consuming food before crawling into bed is an actual reason for weight gain, there are other medical complications that could come into play by making it a habit.

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