People who regularly eat after dinner or before bed face a significantly higher risk of two serious liver conditions, according to a large long-term study published on 15 October 2026 in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Researchers from Oregon Health and Science University and Massachusetts General Hospital analysed data from 199,155 participants with a median age of 59, tracked over a median follow-up period of 16 years. Late-night eaters showed a 28 percent higher risk of cirrhosis and a 36 percent higher risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, or MASLD, compared with people who ate at more standard times.
What the study actually measured
As ScienceDaily reported, the study defined late-night eating as consuming food either after bedtime or in the window between dinner and bedtime. Participants, who are enrolled in ongoing health research, complete food and lifestyle questionnaires every two to four years.
The absolute numbers remain modest. Cirrhosis stayed uncommon across the cohort, with 315 cases recorded among nearly 200,000 participants over the follow-up period. The researchers adjusted for variables including age, body mass index and physical activity, and the association between late-night eating and liver disease remained significant after those adjustments.
The study cannot prove direct cause and effect. Sleep timing and sleep quality were not accounted for in the analysis, and the researchers acknowledge other factors may be at play. What participants ate late at night was not logged either, only when they ate it.
Why the liver keeps its own clock
The leading explanation centres on circadian rhythms, the built-in cycles that synchronise the body with day and night. The liver runs its own timekeeping mechanism in addition to the body's master clock, and the researchers suggest it may simply be less prepared to process food efficiently late in the evening. The result, they argue, could be more fat accumulating in the liver and higher blood sugar levels, though these ideas require further testing.
According to ScienceAlert, which first reported the findings, the researchers wrote in their published paper that the relationship is biologically plausible.
Higher evening caloric intake may lead to obesity and metabolic derangement via decreased insulin sensitivity and lower energy utilization at night.
A few earlier studies had hinted at the connection, but this is among the first long-term analyses to explicitly link eating timing to fatty liver disease. Hepatologist Robert Wilechansky of OHSU, one of the study's authors, said the finding opens a practical avenue for intervention.
We know the liver is very much in tune with the body's circadian rhythms. So we're interested in changing the timing of eating in a way that could make a difference in health, without changing the composition of what people eat.
Why it matters for Australia
MASLD, commonly known as fatty liver disease, occurs when metabolic problems such as obesity cause fat to build up in the liver. In some people it triggers scarring that can progress to cirrhosis, where the liver is permanently damaged and may eventually fail. Liver disease is a growing burden in Australia, driven largely by rising obesity and metabolic disorder rates, and public health authorities have long argued that prevention beats treatment.
The study's appeal lies in its simplicity. If confirmed, adjusting when you eat, rather than what you eat, could offer a lower-barrier path to reducing liver disease risk than demanding new diets or exercise regimes. The International Business Times noted that the findings come from a cohort of nearly 200,000 US participants, and researchers themselves cautioned that causation remains unproven.
Sleep and circadian physiologist Andrew McHill of OHSU said the broader lesson extends well beyond the dinner table.
We are seeing over and over again that the timing of behaviors, whether it's sleep, eating or exercise, really matters.
What happens next
An OHSU team that includes Wilechansky is already recruiting for a more thorough clinical trial. Future research is expected to measure indicators such as blood sugar and liver fat directly, use liver imaging, and test the effects across diverse populations.
The researchers wrote that confirmation of the results would have the potential to shape best practices in nutrition for chronic liver disease, a field where evidence-based dietary guidance has lagged behind the scale of the problem.
Frequently asked questions
How much does late-night eating raise liver disease risk?
The study found a 28 percent higher risk of cirrhosis and a 36 percent higher risk of MASLD among late-night eaters compared with people who ate at standard times, after adjusting for factors including age, BMI and physical activity.
Does late-night eating cause liver disease?
The study shows an association, not proven causation. Sleep timing and quality were not measured, and the researchers say further clinical trials are needed to confirm the link.
What is MASLD?
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, formerly called fatty liver disease, is a condition in which metabolic issues such as obesity cause fat to accumulate in the liver. It can lead to scarring and, in some cases, cirrhosis.