Dietician: Late night feeding causes overweight, high sugar level

A dietician in Garki Hospital, Abuja, Grace Abasirim, has warned that late night feeding can lead to overweight and increase in blood sugar level.

Abasirim told the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja that late night food would result in accumulation of calories and nutrients in the system, if not digested by the body system.

According to her, there are health implications in eating late at night because we have what is called daily expected recommendation allowance you are expected to get from your food daily.

She said: “If you exceed the expected calories from your food per day, the excess nutrients can lead to overweight or obesity.

“People who eat late at night usually suffer indigestion because the energy one gets from the food cannot be used up.

“The moment your body is at rest, it slow down digestion processes, as a result you wake up feeling heavy.”

Abasirim advised diabetic patients to take their meal before nightfall to avoid suffering from “hyperglycemia’’.

She said that hyperglycemia is a rise in blood sugar level which can lead to overweight or obesity.

She explained that the calories in the daily three square meals could be use up before nightfall.

The dietician advised diabetic patients to eat night food between 6 p.m and 7 p.m, adding that patients on insulin can eat vegetable at night if they were hungry.

She, however, advised Nigerians to maintain healthy lifestyle by eating natural instead of processed food.

Besides, the expert advised that dinner should be served between 6 p.m and 7 p.m.