October 13, 2026, 11:56 am | Read time: 4 minutes

The researchers analyzed health and nutrition data from nearly 200,000 people over an average period of 16 years. People who snacked after dinner or late before bed showed a significantly higher risk of fatty liver disease and liver cirrhosis. This was true even when factors such as weight, exercise, alcohol, and total calories were considered.¹

Up to 36 Percent Higher Risk

For the study, the team evaluated data from three large U.S. long-term studies. The researchers then compared the eating habits with the occurrence of liver diseases. Specifically, they looked at metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD) and liver cirrhosis, the end stage of chronic liver damage. Those who regularly snacked or ate late at night had a 36 percent higher risk of fatty liver disease and a 28 percent higher risk of liver cirrhosis compared to those without late meals.

“Some studies have already suggested this idea, but this is one of the first long-term analyses to explicitly establish the connection with fatty liver disease,” explains study leader Dr. Robert Wilechansky.

Why the Timing of Eating Could Be Important

The researchers suspect the influence of the so-called circadian rhythm behind the effect. This internal clock regulates numerous metabolic processes in the body and seems to play an important role for the liver as well.

“We know that the liver interacts very strongly with the body’s circadian rhythm,” says Wilechansky. “That’s why we’re interested in changing the timing of food intake to positively impact health without altering the composition of the diet.”

Sleep and chronobiology expert Dr. Andrew McHill also sees meal timing as an important health factor: “We repeatedly observe that the timing of certain behaviors–whether sleep, eating, or exercise–plays a crucial role.”

According to him, previous studies show that nighttime eating can impair the body’s ability to efficiently metabolize food. This could promote obesity, diabetes, and possibly liver problems in the long term. Since the body’s insulin sensitivity naturally decreases at night, the liver processes late calories less effectively–which promotes fat storage.

Also interesting: How long should you wait to eat after waking up?

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Considerations Regarding the Results

Despite the large amount of data, the study has methodological limitations. The information on eating habits and diagnoses was based on self-reports from participants. Since fatty liver often progresses without symptoms for a long time, many cases remain undetected. Additionally, the study did not capture exact times or portion sizes of late meals. As the participants were predominantly white professionals from the U.S. health sector, the results cannot be directly applied to the entire population.

What Does This Mean for Everyday Life?

The study does not prove that late eating directly causes liver diseases. However, it shows a clear connection. The researchers are already planning further clinical studies to find out if an earlier dinner can actually improve liver values in people with fatty liver.

Until then, it’s not just the “what” but also the “when” of eating that could be crucial for health. Those who want to do something good for their liver might benefit from planning their last major meal a few hours before bedtime. Experts advise not eating two to four hours before going to bed to give the metabolism a rest–even though it’s too early for rigid guidelines.

Important medical warning: Those already suffering from liver cirrhosis should not skip meals before bedtime without consulting a doctor. In this severe liver disease, a small late snack is often medically necessary to avoid dangerous nighttime malnutrition.