DETROIT – If you're finding yourself doing some late night eating -- blame your brain.
Brigham Young University researchers discovered that snacking at night occurs because some areas of the brain are not satisfied because food is not as rewarding at night.
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The study measured how people's brains respond to high and low calorie food images at different times of the day. The results showed that images of high-calorie food can generate spikes in brain activity, but those responses are lower in the evening.
The study also discovered that people were more preoccupied with food at night even though their hunger and fullness levels were the same at other times of the day.