The nocturnal eating fest that may happen around your house can make a significant difference in your health and weight, say diet experts.

  Studies show that many Americans consume 50 to 75 percent of their daily calories in the evening hours. Although it might not seem to matter when you eat, those who "diet" during the day and "feast" at night are doing themselves no favor.

Metabolism Matters

  Studies show that food eaten in the evening before sleep is not metabolized in the same way as food consumed during the day, when people are more active and burn calories more easily. Calories consumed in the evening just don't have a chance to be metabolized and used as effectively as calories consumed earlier in the day.

  Even when people eat the same number of calories, those who consume a greater proportion of calories at night tend to gain more weight, or lose less, than those who eat most of their calories during the day. Your body's metabolism is at its lowest when you're asleep, so food eaten before bed tends to be stored as fat.

Busy Days and Bingeing Nights

  Because the American lifestyle emphasizes busy days with little time for well-balanced meals, many people do not eat much until they return home in the evening. By that time, anything and everything in the house is free game — from a full meal to the peanuts, potato chips, ice cream and sweet rolls. Dieters, who may try to "be good" all day, find that they are more likely to binge when they get home.

  Other factors in the American lifestyle also encourage this eating pattern. We tend to socialize and entertain in the evenings, and spend most of our family time together, often eating big meals, snacks and desserts. It is also a time of boredom and loneliness for some people, particularly for those who live alone. Eating may be the central event of the evening. Of course, snacking unwisely in front of the television is also a big problem for many people.