An increasing amount of research on weight loss suggests that when you eat may be just as important as what you eat and could even be as effective as weight loss pills. Researchers at Northwestern University recently tested whether the timing of meals could impact your weight and the findings are surprising.

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In the Northwestern study, two groups of mice were given identical diets, but half were fed when they normally would be sleeping. The other half fed during their regular eating schedule.

After six weeks, both groups of mice had consumed the same number of calories and had the same amount of exercise. However, the mice that were fed when they usually would have been sleeping increased their body weight by a staggering 48 percent. Normally fed mice only increased their body weight by 20 percent.

The study’s authors say that similar tests are needed on humans to confirm the findings, but the early evidence points to late night eating as being a prime culprit in weight gain. Shift workers who regularly eat large meals at night are particularly prone to obesity and this research suggests why that may be so.

Even many of those who don’t work at night still consume many of not most of their calories in the evenings. Study author Fred Turek suggests that humans evolved from a situation where they ate during sunlight hours. ONce the sun went down there was no way of storing food and thus no more calories after sunset.

So if you are trying to lose weight, it might be a good idea to emulate the caveman and limit your night time feedings.

photo credit: Tobyotter