Eating and sleep

[epidural man]

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Not an anesthesia question, but you guys are wicked smart (with a Boston accent) so instead of me doing a Google scholar search, I’ll just ask you all.

I am currently in Spain. People here are nuts. The restaurants are closed at dinner time and don’t open until 830 and don’t really get busy until 10pm. Tiny kids and very old people are wandering the streets well into the morning.

So my wife and I had a small discussion.

Is it healthy to eat at midnight then go right to sleep?

I pointed out that although the common rhetoric is that somehow that is unhealthy, I wonder if there was any science to that notion. She, like she always does, said “well you are the doctor. You should know this”

Anyway, is there science to that? Does when you eat and go to sleep matter?

I suspect this whole country is chronically sleep deprived by the way.

 

[Beeftenderloin]

There’s the data driven approach: As of 2016 the rate of obesity in the US was 40% relative to Spain 16.7%. As of 2019 rates of death from ischemic heart disease were 108/100K and 49/100K in the US and Spain respectively. Life expectancy is 78 and 83 in US and Spain respectively.

And then there’s the common sense approach: Look around you, do the people you see out and about look more or less “healthy” than the people you see walking around Houston (or NOLA, Des Moines, KC, Chicago, pick a city).

This approach to eating is fairly common in Western Europe (where they, in general have better overall health outcomes than we do here in the US). I’m planning a trip to France as we speak and the earliest most dinner restaurants open is 730.

The part of Spain I found most jarring was actually when I saw a mother eating lunch with her daughter (who appeared to be no older than 4-5 years old) and casually poured her a small cup of beer from bottle she ordered herself. This is in broad daylight at a busy cafe. No one batted an eye.

 

[nimbus]

Also important to know what time first cases start in Spain.

FWIW, many middle schools and high schools in my area have pushed their start times to 9am. Impossible for elementary school because too many parents would complain about morning childcare.

 

[IMGASMD]

They also still observe siesta, right? I wouldn’t mind to take a nap everyday in the middle of the day.

 

[GassYous]

Spain is awesome.

There was a study done recently where they compare calorie restriction vs calorie restriction + time restriction. 6 vs 8 kg loss and both groups reverted back to original weight a year later. Statistically no significant difference.

It is all about calories in vs calories out. Laws of thermodynamics.

 

[Ashers]

Also important to know what time first cases start in Spain.

England was 9am starts when I shadowed a consultant anaesthetist (for fun on my vacation -- friend of a friend). If England starts at 9, I can't imagine how late Spain starts. (Maui starts at 8am at their hospital for Hawaii time starts -- unless Kaiser made them change when they took over the hospital.)

 

[aneftp]

On the flip side. The easy going countries (Greece, Italy and Spain). The “pigs” eurozone counties are very financially weak.

What Are PIIGS and the Link With European Debt Crisis

PIIGS is an acronym for Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece, and Spain, which were the weakest economies in the eurozone during the European debt crisis.

www.investopedia.com

The hard working countries like Germany despise having to support these other countries that take 2 hour naps in middle of the day and close up shop.

 

[GravelRider]

I don’t think the late meals in Spain are the same size as a typical American dinner. My recollection of Spain when I was there about 10 years ago was that they did a “happy hour” tapas thing in late afternoon/early evening then did a small meal later in the night as you describe. I think the midday meal, which is equivalent to our lunch, is the biggest meal in Spain.

At the end of the day, diet is essentially calories in and calories out, and my guess is that typical Spanish meal portions are much smaller than American portions.

 

[Ashers]

that typical Spanish meal portions are much smaller than American portions.

I think every where else has portions much smaller than ours...

 

[POW16]

I'm from Spain. No one eats at midnight. You eat around 9-10 PM. Quality of food is much better, food is healthier and as already pointed out portions are much smaller. I don't think people are chronically sleep deprived. Everything is just shifted as you start your day later. And life expectancy is 5 years more than in the US. That being said the economy is terrible. But I wouldn't mind going back for retirement.

 

[linkin06]

Lol my gf and I were always showing up to restaurants at 7 PM and nobody would start to show up til we were done and leaving

 

[Ashers]

Lol my gf and I were always showing up to restaurants at 7 PM and nobody would start to show up til we were done and leaving

That's about the time I'd show up, 7, and it was a stretch for me. I normally eat dinner early and go to bed early. BUT I love Spain (and Italy where it's similar).

 

[Ronin786]

Food in these countries is healthier and more locally sourced. But their lifestyles are also much more active than our American lifestyles. More walking, more steps. More emphasis on extended families and less stressing over careers. A lot more than just timing of meals comes into play.

 

[2Fast2Des]

Oh God don't tell Americans that, they freak out over anyone asking for more than 6 weeks for maternity leave. Or heck afraid of taking a sick day. I would certainly entertain having a retirement home in Europe to spend time in part of the year to enjoy that life...

 

[sloh]

If you control for calories, timing of meals doesn’t make a big difference