Late-night snacking harms gut health under stress, study finds
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New Delhi: A new study warns that late-night eating exacerbates the gut health effects of chronic stress, disrupting bowel function and microbiome diversity.
Analysing data from over 11,000 US participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, researchers linked high allostatic load — a measure of cumulative stress via BMI, cholesterol, and blood pressure — with late-night habits. Those consuming more than 25 per cent of daily calories after 9 p.m. faced 1.7 times higher risk of constipation and diarrhoea compared to low-stress, early eaters.
"It’s not just what you eat, but when you eat it,," said lead author Harika Dadigiri, resident physician at New York Medical College at Saint Mary's and Saint Clare's Hospital. "And when we’re already under stress, that timing may deliver a ‘double hit’ to gut health."
Separate analysis of over 4,000 American Gut Project participants showed high-stress late eaters were 2.5 times more prone to bowel issues, with reduced microbiome diversity. This suggests meal timing amplifies stress impacts via the gut-brain axis.
The study identifies associations, not causation, and calls for more research. Dr Dadigiri, who admits to occasional late snacking amid her demanding schedule, recommends structured meal routines to foster better digestive health.
(Inputs from IANS)