It is well known that in recent years fatty liver disease has become a highly prevalent condition internationally, with significant consequences for overall health. Several factors can contribute to the development of fatty liver, including excess body weight, elevated cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood glucose levels, as well as a sedentary lifestyle, among others.
Studies of eating behavior in relation to fatty liver disease have shown that eating late at night, combined with skipping breakfast, can increase the likelihood of developing this condition. A study was published in the Nutrition Journal to examine the influence of daily food intake frequency and overnight fasting duration on the development of fatty liver. This study included 11,153 people; 3,809 did not have fatty liver, while 7,344 did.
The relationship between meal frequency and fatty liver
It was found that the lower the frequency of daily food intake, the higher the probability of developing fatty liver, and similarly, the longer the overnight fast, the greater the likelihood of developing fatty liver. The probability of developing fatty liver increased by 21% with these two eating patterns. Finally, eating fewer than three times a day during the day increases the likelihood of fatty liver. Furthermore, overnight fasting of more than fourteen hours increases the risk of fatty liver. This is explained by alterations in the circadian rhythm (the biological clock that is affected by changes in time). It has also been shown that eating more frequently reduces obesity and cholesterol levels compared to people who eat fewer than three meals a day.
In summary, both Dr. Carreño and the physicians at the Foundation believe that the results of this study are important for preventing the development of fatty liver disease. However, we believe that further studies are needed to confirm these results. Furthermore, this study included patients representative of the American population, and similar studies should be conducted on other continents to verify that the same conclusions are reached.
