Myth: You Should Avoid Eating After 6 PM to Lose Weight

A common weight loss myth suggests that eating food after 6 PM, or at night, leads to weight gain. People often skip meals or avoid eating dinner for fear of gaining weight.

The timing of your meals is not as important as the total number of calories consumed over the course of the day. Eating late at night doesn’t automatically cause weight gain. What matters is the balance of calories in versus calories out. If you consume more calories than your body needs, regardless of the time of day, you will gain weight. Eating late at night can be part of a healthy eating pattern if you are mindful of portion sizes and the types of food you consume. A balanced, nutrient-dense diet that fits within your daily calorie needs is more important than worrying about when you eat.