Evidence involving health risks among night shift workers prompted Dr. Robert Wilechansky to investigate whether irregular meal timing contributes to liver disease.

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Oregon Health & Science University circadian physiologist Andrew McHill stated that eating during the night when the internal biological clock promotes sleep reduces nutrient metabolism efficiency, potentially leading to obesity, diabetes, and impaired liver health.

Previous animal model studies showed that the liver is among the organs most susceptible to misalignment between eating and sleep timing.

An Oregon Health & Science University study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology linked late-night eating to a 20% to 30% higher risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and liver cirrhosis.

Oregon Health & Science University researchers are recruiting participants for a new clinical study to directly monitor eating habits and determine whether eating earlier improves clinical measures of underlying fatty liver disease.

Night shift workers whose work schedules conflict with natural day-night biological cycles experience elevated rates of obesity and heart disease.