by Does That Cup of Evening Coffee Have a Hidden Catch? New Study Links It to Impulsive Eating in Women
For most of us, a morning brew is a sacred must. But what about the pick-me-up you grab in the afternoon slump or after dinner? A fresh study may give women pause. Research led by the University of Granada and published in the British Journal of Nutrition has tied late-day coffee to an increased chance of impulsive choices, especially binge eating.
What the Study Found
The team set out to link your body clock, your coffee schedule, and your impulse control. First, they identified participants’ chronotypes—who’s a cheery morning bird and who’s a productive night owl. Next, they charted when those volunteers sipped caffeine and measured impulsive reactions with the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale, a widely trusted survey in psychology.
Researchers noticed a clear pattern among women in their latest study. Those who sipped coffee in the evening, especially if they naturally stay up later, showed a bump in impulsivity. This wasn’t just about struggling to resist a temptation. The scientists identified two particular types of impulsiveness that showed up more strongly. The first, called “lack of perseverance,” means having a hard time sticking with a tough task. The second, “lack of premeditation,” is about doing things on impulse without really considering what might happen next.
Why This Matters for Eating Disorders
This finding raises a red flag for disorders like Binge Eating Disorder (BED). The impulsive patterns the study recorded are already known to increase the chance of developing BED. People with this condition regularly eat very large meals in a short time and feel like they can’t control what they are doing. The links in this study hint that afternoon or evening coffee might fan the flames of the very traits that lead to BED.
The study points to a link, not a proven cause. It doesn’t show that having coffee at night directly makes women more impulsive or prone to an eating disorder. Instead, it indicates that women who already might be at risk for these issues may find it harder to control their impulses after consuming caffeine late in the day.
Why Does This Matter? A Peek Inside the Brain
Researchers are still unraveling the details, but they think caffeine acts on brain chemistry in a way that matters. As a stimulant, caffeine blocks adenosine, a chemical that helps us wind down and sleep. That’s why coffee perks us up. However, caffeine also nudges the dopamine system. Dopamine helps us feel reward, stay motivated, and, importantly, hold back on impulses. Disrupting that balance can interfere with self-control, especially late at night.
Drinking coffee at night can change how the brain handles dopamine, which affects how we chase short-term rewards and plan for the future. If you tend to stay up late and your brain is tuned to be active at night, then having coffee can push these systems out of balance. You might find it easier to jump at immediate satisfactions—like grabbing a junk-food snack you didn’t plan for—rather than sticking to a healthy meal you set out to eat.
What You Can Do
This research helps explain why caffeine hits us differently based on our gender, our internal clock, and the time of day. If you’re a woman who loves a cup of coffee after dinner but notices your self-control, especially around food, slipping, it could be time to rethink that after-dark brew. Try switching to decaf or herbal tea at night and pay attention to how your cravings change. Being aware of why you want that last cup and when you drink it can be a small tweak that helps your mind and body stay on the same long-term track.
