Obesity is an important cause of fatty liver, and late-night snacking is the main factor causing obesity. However, it is misleading to say that fatty liver and obesity are caused solely by late-night snacking without physical activity afterwards.
【Late-night snacking increases the risk of fatty liver】
First,
In terms of energy expenditure, the energy expenditure of the human body is not only the physical exertion that we can see every day. On the contrary, for individuals engaged in light physical activities, the proportion of physical exertion is not significant. The energy expenditure of adults mainly includes basal metabolism, thermic effect of food, and physical activity. Basal metabolism refers to the minimum energy consumed by the body's various organs to maintain basic physiological functions such as body temperature regulation, blood circulation, respiratory movements, muscle tension, and glandular activity. Basal metabolism consumes a considerable amount of energy, accounting for about 70% of the total energy expenditure in individuals engaged in light physical labor, while the thermic effect of food accounts for 10% and physical activity accounts for 20%. Basal metabolism remains relatively constant even during sleep, so eating or not eating late-night snacks will not affect basal metabolism.
Second,
Looking at the overall concept of daily energy intake, it is not scientifically accurate to highlight the harm of a single meal or a snack. If the energy intake from three meals a day is sufficient, then eating late-night snacks will definitely lead to excessive intake. Therefore, controlling the overall energy intake properly, even if it is divided into multiple meals, will not pose a significant risk of weight gain, even if there are two late-night snacks.
Third,
The proportion of energy intake in each meal of a normal three-meal diet is related to the energy expenditure after each meal. For example, the most standard proportion for three meals is 30% for breakfast, 40% for lunch, and 30% for dinner. The main consideration is that lunch needs to compensate for the insufficient energy consumption after breakfast and prepare for the energy consumption in the afternoon. However, modern people's lifestyle habits have undergone significant changes, with many people skipping breakfast and going straight to lunch, and they can work or entertain until midnight after dinner. Naturally, many people have the habit of eating late-night snacks. Although traditional dietary practices do not advocate such changes, it is not feasible to let these people starve through the long night. Therefore, it is not reasonable to assume that changes in eating habits will inevitably lead to adverse consequences. Late-night snacking is not an absolute factor in causing obesity and fatty liver.
【Habits that cause fatty liver】
1. Skipping breakfast for a long time and having relatively simple lunches can easily lead to malnutrition. The lack of protein and other nutrients can cause fat deposition in the liver, leading to fatty liver.
2. Sweet foods, meat, and late-night snacks almost dominate our daily lives. Excessive consumption of food disrupts our metabolic balance, putting a heavy burden on our digestive organs and liver.
3. Prolonged sitting or lack of exercise, or even no physical exercise, results in the inability to burn a large amount of calories and fat in the body, which eventually converts into fat. When these fats accumulate under the skin, it manifests as obesity. When they accumulate in the liver, it leads to fatty liver.
4. A rich dinner has the highest proportion of nutrient intake in a day but the least energy expenditure. Frequent drinking as a result of socializing becomes a habit. Alcohol and its metabolites have a certain toxicity to liver cells. The more alcohol consumed, the easier it is for fat to accumulate in the liver, leading to alcoholic fatty liver.
【Tips】
People who frequently indulge in heavy meat consumption, uncontrolled eating, long-term alcohol consumption, obesity, and lack of exercise are all high-risk groups for fatty liver. Therefore, to prevent fatty liver, in addition to reducing late-night snacking, attention should also be paid to a balanced diet, avoiding heavy meat consumption, binge eating, smoking, and excessive drinking. To have a healthy body, it is important to cultivate a healthy diet.
