Why does eating sweets at night make you gain weight?

Many people have heard that "eating sweets at night makes you fat." This phenomenon is related to the way our bodies work and our daily rhythms. So, what is the specific mechanism that makes us more likely to gain weight?

1. Slower metabolic rhythm and energy consumption
The human body's metabolism changes in accordance with the daily rhythm. During the day, we are very active and our metabolism is active, making it easier to use up the food we eat as energy. However, at night, our body switches to rest mode and our metabolism slows down. For this reason, energy taken in late at night is not used and is more likely to be stored as fat.

Sweet foods, in particular, contain a lot of sugar, which is quickly absorbed by the body and causes a rapid rise in blood sugar levels. This sudden rise and subsequent drop in blood sugar levels is what promotes fat storage.

2. Insulin function and fat accumulation
When you eat sweets, your blood sugar level rises, and a hormone called insulin is secreted to lower it. This insulin uses blood sugar as energy, but also stores excess sugar in the body as fat. Because you are less active at night, less is used as energy, making it easier for insulin to promote fat storage.

3. Impact on sleep quality
Eating sweets late at night can worsen the quality of your sleep. In particular, sweets that contain sugar and caffeine stimulate the nerves, making it difficult to fall asleep and preventing deep sleep. Lack of sleep or poor quality sleep disrupts hormonal balance, reducing the secretion of the hormone that suppresses appetite (leptin) and increasing the secretion of the hormone that stimulates appetite (ghrelin). This leads to overeating the next day and beyond, which can lead to weight gain.

4. Psychological impact
People who have the habit of eating sweets at night are often doing so in order to relieve stress and feel satisfied. Although they may feel temporarily satisfied, they may also feel guilty and feel even more stressed. This can create a vicious cycle, which can ultimately lead to poor eating habits.

[Measures to prevent weight gain]

- Have a light meal in the evening. <br data-mce-fragment="1">Avoid carbohydrates and sweets in the evening, and try to eat meals centered around easily digestible protein and vegetables.

- Enjoy sweets during the day. <br data-mce-fragment="1">If you want to eat something sweet, try to eat it during times of day when you are most active, so that it is more likely to be burned as energy.

- Incorporate moderate exercise <br data-mce-fragment="1">Even if you eat something sweet at night, it's a good idea to get into the habit of burning energy through light exercise such as walking or stretching.

- Improve your sleeping environment <br data-mce-fragment="1">Avoiding late-night snacks and getting good quality sleep will help regulate your hormone balance and make it easier to manage your weight.

Summary <br data-mce-fragment="1">The reason why eating sweets at night makes you gain weight is due to a combination of factors such as a slower metabolism, the function of insulin, poor sleep quality, and psychological factors. If you really want to eat something sweet, it's important to be mindful of the timing and amount you eat, and to get your daily lifestyle rhythm in order. Eat a balanced diet to help maintain a healthy figure.

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