Eating late at night may be associated with a higher risk of liver disease, according to research from Oregon Health & Science University. The study examined dietary and lifestyle information from nearly 200,000 adults and found that people who reported eating after dinner or close to bedtime had approximately 20–30% higher rates of liver disease than those who did not report the habit.
The findings suggest that meal timing, alongside food choices and portion sizes, may be relevant to liver health. However, the reported association does not prove that late-night eating directly causes liver disease.

Researchers analysed information from participants in three major long-term studies, including the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. The conditions examined included metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), commonly known as fatty liver disease, and cirrhosis.
The liver plays a central role in metabolism and operates in coordination with the body’s circadian rhythm, the internal clock that regulates sleep and other daily processes. Researchers suggest that eating when the body is preparing for sleep could affect normal metabolic functions.
Robert Wilechansky, a hepatologist at Oregon Health & Science University and the study’s lead author, highlighted researchers’ interest in whether changing meal timing could influence health without changing the foods people eat.
The findings do not mean that everyone who eats late will develop liver problems. Overall health, dietary patterns, physical activity, sleep and other risk factors also matter. Further research is needed to clarify whether changing meal timing can reduce liver disease risk.
For everyday liver health, people can focus on balanced meals, regular physical activity, adequate sleep and limiting alcohol. Those concerned about liver disease should consult a qualified healthcare professional rather than relying on meal timing alone.

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