I don't know - but I'd sure like to. I hate waking up all night long - just to find something to eat. My waistline doesn't like it much either.....

What is it that makes a, “ Midnight Snack ” so irresistible ?
Short answer: blame your ancestors.

A recent study published by the journal Obesity found that late night snack cravings are the work of the body’s circadian system, which acts as an internal clock to control when the body performs certain habitual tasks.
It’s the circadian system that increases cravings for sweet, starchy, or salty foods in the evenings.
This urge is a remnant of a now-defunct survival mechanism in which eating large meals at night would help our ancestors store energy in times of famine.

Much like the human appendix, evolution and changes in human eating habits have rendered it obsolete; however, unlike the mostly harmless appendix, this former survival tactic is now a huge contributor to morbid obesity.
Snacking at night is counterproductive for the body, because sleeping doesn’t expend the same energy—and calories— as one’s daily activities do.

Steven Shea, Ph.D., one of the researchers who conducted the study, concluded that the circadian system causes a nighttime peak in appetite that promotes larger, more caloric meals before the fasting period of sleep.
Shea said that, “ Because of the internal circadian regulation of appetite, we have a natural tendency to skip breakfast in favor of larger meals in the evening.
This pattern of food intake across the day is exactly what Sumo wrestlers do to gain weight …
So, it seems likely that the internal circadian system helps with efficient food storage.
While this may have been valuable throughout evolution, nowadays it is likely to contribute to the national epidemic of obesity.”

Well it sure is contributing to the obesity in this house, I'll tell ya. :)

There was a time I was getting up about 3 to 4 times a night and found it impossible not to snack on something. That's when I started to cook a lot of hard boiled eggs and keep them in the fridge. That really helped.

But for some reason - I have stopped having to get up and eat for about the past 2 months and I have no idea of why. Maybe my internal whatever isn't very thrilled about hard boiled eggs?

I have heard this before...it's part of instinct and survival....only we do not have to hunt and gather like early ancestors. My shelter dog is this way with the other two dogs. He was starving when he was picked up on the streets of Denver. We don't know how long he was on his own. But he gobbles his food so fast...afraid that the other two dogs are going to get his food....even though e we separate them...our kitchen has doors.... and he is constantly wanting to eat even though now I'm having to watch his weight and exercise him. He is now pudgy. We call him Buddha belly.Lol

Wait a minute, isn't that "circadian system" something that was developed by the cicada insects in hope we'll drop crumbs all over from late night snacking? ;)

well at least I can blame something other than ME lol.. Sun I have my own buddha belly..lol XXX

I developed my own crum catcher Astimegoesby.. My fur balls..lol. XXX