--- title: "Late-night snacking common among young adults" url: https://noti.group/late-night-snacking-common-among-young-adults/ language: en publisher: "Noti Group" section: "Health" published: 2026-11-06T00:42:05.000Z updated: 2026-11-06T05:24:33.414Z id: acffa2de-0445-437f-9959-58be9bd99c1b source: "BBC News Health https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq2e9v3030gyo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss" attribution: "Link to https://noti.group/late-night-snacking-common-among-young-adults/ and name Noti Group when you quote or summarize this story." --- # Late-night snacking common among young adults Young adults often experience a sudden urge to snack after dinner despite being full from their evening meal. People often experience a sudden urge to snack after dinner, despite being full from their evening meal. Research indicates that about one-third of individuals regularly engage in this late-night snacking habit. The prevalence of evening snacking is particularly high among young adults aged 18-24, with nearly four in five people unable to resist the temptation. Dietitian Dr Kristine Beaulieu warns that frequent nighttime eating can have negative consequences for weight management and obesity prevention. A significant factor contributing to evening cravings is the natural peak in appetite that occurs later in the day. Research suggests that this phenomenon occurs regardless of how much food has been consumed earlier in the day. The hormone ghrelin, often referred to as the "hunger hormone," plays a crucial role in regulating appetite. According to Prof James Betts, who studies the body's response to food and energy at the University of Bath, ghrelin levels tend to be higher later in the day. This may explain why people often experience increased hunger after dinner. Meals that are high in protein, fibre, and volume can help individuals feel more satisfied for longer periods. However, this knowledge does not necessarily alleviate the issue of evening cravings, leaving many wondering how to effectively manage their late-night snacking habits. The timing and setting of meals can significantly influence our snacking habits, particularly in the evening. According to experts, a light or unsatisfying dinner can lead to a drop in energy levels later on, prompting people to seek out snacks. For many individuals, the fear of waking up hungry during the night is a major motivator for late-night snacking. Additionally, long-standing habits play a crucial role in shaping our eating behaviors, with certain settings and cues triggering cravings. When snacking becomes a regular habit, the environment itself can become a trigger for food cravings. For instance, watching TV in a familiar setting may inadvertently stimulate hunger, even if we're not genuinely feeling peckish. Research suggests that our appetite for calorie-dense foods increases as the day progresses, driven by the brain's reward system rather than a genuine need for energy. This can lead to a stronger desire for high-fat foods over low-fat alternatives. Even after consuming a substantial meal in the evening, certain types of food can continue to activate the brain's reward pathways, making it more likely that we'll reach for something sweet or salty despite being full. It's easy to blame a lack of willpower when we find ourselves reaching for midnight snacks, but biology may actually be at play here. Research suggests that eating a large meal late in the day can disrupt digestion and interfere with the body's natural sleep preparation process. However, the relationship between snacking and sleep is more complex. While some studies have found links between consuming high-refined carbohydrate and added sugar foods before bed and poorer sleep quality. These findings may be attributed to the significant fluctuations in blood sugar levels caused by such foods, as well as potential alterations to hormonal signals regulating sleep and appetite. This raises questions about cause and effect: do sugary snacks disrupt sleep, or do people who are already experiencing poor sleep turn to them? Making earlier meals more filling may help alleviate hunger pangs later on, potentially reducing the need for evening snacks. For those who snack out of habit rather than genuine hunger, changing routines and planning ahead can be an effective solution. This approach helps individuals become more mindful of their snacking habits, allowing them to make more intentional choices about what they eat. According to Higgs, eating while distracted, such as watching TV, can lead people to overconsume because they pay less attention to how much they've eaten. Beaulieu counters that there's no need to completely ban evening snacks, suggesting that a reasonable portion of something enjoyable is often more sustainable in the long run. By making healthy options easily accessible and available, individuals are more likely to choose them over their cravings for unhealthy foods. As Beaulieu advises, keeping fruit, yoghurt, nuts, or even small amounts of chocolate on hand can provide an occasional indulgence without derailing overall health goals. --- Source: [BBC News Health](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq2e9v3030gyo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss) Published by Noti Group: https://noti.group/late-night-snacking-common-among-young-adults/