00:00that late-night snack could be doing more than adding calories.
00:03A new study in clinical gastroenterology and hepatology followed 1-19-155 people,
00:10median age 59 for a median of 16 years.
00:12Researchers from Oregon Health and Science University and Massachusetts General Hospital
00:17looked at people who ate after bedtime or between dinner and bedtime.
00:21The result, a 36% higher risk of fatty liver disease, now called MSLD,
00:27and a 28% higher risk of cirrhosis.
00:30The link held after adjusting for age, body mass index, and physical activity.
00:35Cirrhosis was uncommon overall, with 315 cases among nearly 200,000 people.
00:42The researchers suggest the body's internal clock may play a role,
00:45and the liver may not handle food efficiently late in the evening.
00:49But that idea is untested.
00:50The study shows a link, not proof.
00:53It did not account for sleep timing, and it did not record what people ate.
00:57A hepatologist said it is among the first long-term analyses to draw this connection.
01:02Do you eat late at night?
01:03Disclosure.
01:04This video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced, using AI-assisted tools.
