Late Eating Combined With High Stress Raises Gut Health Risks, Study Finds

NEW YORK — A U.S. study found that eating late at night combined with high stress significantly increases the likelihood of digestive problems. Researchers at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine analyzed data from more than 11,000 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The findings were presented at Digestive Disease Week 2026. The study found that people consuming more than 25 percent of their daily calories after 9 p.m. while experiencing high stress were 1.7 times more likely to report constipation or diarrhea. An additional analysis of over 4,000 participants from the American Gut Microbiome project showed these individuals were 2.5 times more likely to report gut complaints. The research also found reduced diversity of gut bacteria in these individuals. Scientists explained that stress affects the digestive system through a bidirectional communication network between the brain and gut bacteria. The study's authors noted the research is observational, so it does not establish direct causation.