Nightime's Not the Right Time

Sneaking late night or midnight snacks, even low-cal bites, may throw off your circadian rhythms enough to cause weight gain. A study of mice was prompted by overweight shift workers whose schedules forced them to teat at times that conflict with their natural body rhythms. Mice fed a high-fat diet during typical sleeping hours increased their weight by 48%, while mice eating the same diet during their waking hours had a 20% weight gain. "Better timing of meals could be a critical element in slowing the ever-increasing incidence of obesity, " says Fred Turek, Ph.D., director of the Center for Sleep and Circadian Biology at Northwestern University. I think this is even more important for our child to eat at scheduled times and to limit in-between eating. Keep those late night hours for sleeping and not eating. It will make a difference in your families' health.