Stress and Late-Night Eating May Disrupt Gut Health, Study Finds

New research presented at Digestive Disease Week 2026 highlights how stress and late-night eating together may negatively impact digestive health. The findings support the growing concept of chrononutrition, which emphasises that meal timing can be as important as food choices.

Led by the researcher of New York Medical College, the study analysed data from over 11,000 participants. Individuals experiencing high stress who consumed more than 25% of their daily calories after 9 p.m. were found to have a significantly higher risk of digestive issues such as constipation and diarrhea.

A separate dataset from the American Gut Project showed similar results, linking late eating and stress to reduced gut microbiome diversity. While the study does not establish direct causation, it suggests that maintaining consistent meal timing and reducing late-night eating may support better gut health, especially during periods of stress.

05-05-2026