How late-night snacking can pack on the pounds

IT IS the time of day when it is finally possible to relax, open up a bottle of wine and maybe a bag of crisps.

But those who eat too much in the evening may be risking a weight gain.

A study of almost 1,200 people looked at how much of their daily calories they consumed past 6pm.

This ranged from less than a third on average, to almost half. Those who ate the least in the evening were found to consume about 170 fewer calories during the day – the equivalent of half a chocolate bar.

Lead study author Judith Baird, from Ulster University, said: ‘Some people may eat more in the evenings because we tend to get hungrier as the day goes on.

‘It may feel like they need to eat more to feel full.

‘Next, we wish to explore dietary patterns, such as snacking, and possibly where and how people eat, such as with others, in the kitchen or in front of the television.’

The study, which is due to be presented at the European and International Conference on Obesity this week, studied 1,177 people in the UK, aged from 19 to 6 .

Previous studies have found that people who eat a greater percentage of their calories in the evening are more likely to be obese.