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Late Eating and Obesity: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies
Yunseo Park1, Heram Cho2, Seung-Kwon Myung3,4,5
1Department of Medicine, Peninsula University Hospital, Frankston, VIC 3199, Australia.
Nutrition Reviews
|June 13, 2026
Summary
Late eating is linked to a higher obesity risk in adults, according to this meta-analysis. However, no significant association was found in adolescents, warranting further research in this group and Western populations.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Inconsistent findings exist regarding the association between late eating and obesity risk.
- Previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses have yielded conflicting results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze case-control and cohort studies.
- To investigate the association between late eating patterns and obesity risk.
Main Methods:
- Searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library up to September 2025.
- Included 3 case-control and 5 cohort studies.
- Extracted adjusted odds ratios (OR) and hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).
Main Results:
- Late eating was significantly associated with a higher risk of obesity (OR/HR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.03-1.34).
- Cohort studies, particularly in Asian populations, showed a significant association (OR/HR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.04-1.38).
- No significant association was found in case-control studies (OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.49-1.50).
- Positive associations were observed in adults and high-quality studies, but not in adolescents or low-quality studies.
Conclusions:
- Late eating is associated with increased obesity risk in adults.
- No significant association between late eating and obesity risk was found in adolescents.
- Further prospective cohort studies are needed to confirm findings in adolescents and Western populations.
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