The Impact of Sleep and Eating Habits on Health

Staying up late to watch television or use electronic devices has been linked to getting less sleep. However, there are various other elements that can also lead to a decline in overall quality of life.

Research over the past ten years indicates a growing trend of individuals using screens in their bedrooms and before bedtime, with nearly half of the population regularly exposed to blue light.

Screen Time Insights

A study conducted in 2025 involved over 120,000 participants and concluded that around 40%—that’s roughly 50,000 individuals—admitted to using screens right before sleeping. Yet, another nighttime behavior that appears to negatively affect health, particularly among women, is eating late at night.

Research in New Zealand examined the eating patterns of numerous women, assessing variables like body fat percentage and body mass index. The study categorized participants into “night owls” and “morning larks.” Interestingly, those who identified as night owls had a higher percentage of body fat in comparison to their morning counterparts.

It turns out being a night owl is closely associated with dietary habits. Studies suggest that night owls tend to consume more calories, protein, carbohydrates, and fat after 8 p.m.

Moreover, night owls exhibited poorer lipid profiles, which refers to metabolic parameters like blood sugar levels.

Late-Night Eating Patterns

Those who typically stay up late also consume less nutritious food and use fewer calories overall. The evening eating pattern was found to correlate significantly with increased body fat percentages.

Women categorically labeled as night owls showed a higher propensity for obesity. When compared to morning types and those who fell somewhere in between, night owls had a BMI that was 20.3% higher and exhibited around 6% more body fat. There was additionally a +12.6% difference in the ratio of abdominal fat versus fat located in the hips and thighs, indicating a greater accumulation of fat around the abdomen.

All these findings emerged despite similar energy and nutrient intakes among different groups.

According to Roseanne Krueger, the senior author of the study, “When people eat may be just as important as what they eat.”

Recommendations on Meal Timing

Krueger, who is a professor and nutrition researcher at Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia, suggests that limiting late-night eating might lead to improved health outcomes, even for those particularly inclined to stay awake.

The study stresses that meal timing is just as crucial as meal content for maintaining metabolic health.