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The time of day when you consume the most calories has been found to have an effect on how our body responds to them. Our metabolism behaves very differently, dependig on whether we are asleep or awake, so therefore, the time of when we eat and take on calories can also make a difference to how they are processed in the body.

Professor Russell Foster explains how our circadian rhythms can impact the way our bodies deal with the food we eat. In the evening, as you're approaching night and a time for sleeping, instead of burning calories to provide energy, the calories are most likely to be stored in the body. In a US study group, people who ate the most calories at the start and middle of the day, lost more weight than those who ate more later in the day. He says that some cultures now often skip breakfast, and then have a light lunch, with a big meal in the evening - with our main calorie intake before bed, which he says is "just about the worst time to eat".

Photo: Woman snacking on a bagel Credit: Getty Images