Full text is available at the source.
European journal of nutrition···
How meal timing relates to body shape and heart health risks in young adults
Updated
Abstract
In a study of 118 young adults, meal timing was not associated with body composition.
- A longer daily eating window is associated with lower insulin resistance and cardiometabolic risk scores in men.
- Earlier first food intake after midsleep is linked to improved insulin resistance and cardiometabolic health in men.
- No significant relationship was found between meal timing and body composition in the cohort.
Simplified
PURPOSE: To investigate the association of meal timing with body composition and cardiometabolic risk factors in young adults.
METHODS: In this cross-sectional study participated 118 young adults (82 women; 22 ± 2 years old; BMI: 25.1 ± 4.6 kg/m). Meal timing was determined via three non-consecutive 24-h dietary recalls. Sleep outcomes were objectively assessed using accelerometry. The eating window (time between first and last caloric intake), caloric midpoint (local time at which ≥ 50% of daily calories are consumed), eating jetlag (variability of the eating midpoint between non-working and working days), time from the midsleep point to first food intake, and time from last food intake to midsleep point were calculated. Body composition was determined by DXA. Blood pressure and fasting cardiometabolic risk factors (i.e., triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and insulin resistance) were measured. 2
RESULTS: Meal timing was not associated with body composition (p > 0.05). The eating window was negatively related to HOMA-IR and cardiometabolic risk score in men (R = 0.348, β = - 0.605; R = 0.234, β = - 0.508; all p ≤ 0.003). The time from midsleep point to first food intake was positively related to HOMA-IR and cardiometabolic risk score in men (R = 0.212, β = 0.485; R = 0.228, β = 0.502; all p = 0.003). These associations remained after adjusting for confounders and multiplicity (all p ≤ 0.011). 2 2 2 2
CONCLUSIONS: Meal timing seems unrelated to body composition in young adults. However, a longer daily eating window and a shorter time from midsleep point to first food intake (i.e., earlier first food intake in a 24 h cycle) are associated with better cardiometabolic health in young men.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02365129 ( https://www.
CLINICALTRIALS: gov/ct2/show/NCT02365129?term=ACTIBATE&draw=2&rank=1 ).
Related papers
Oct '20
Nightly Fasting Time, Meal Timing, and How Often Women Eat Are Linked to Heart and Metabolic Health Risks
top 10% journal
cited by 33 papers
observational study
Oct '23
Morning or evening preference linked to heart and metabolism risk in young Chinese adults
top 10% journal
cited by 21 papers
research support, non-u.s. gov't
Sep '21
Irregular daily eating times and eating schedule shifts are linked to higher heart and metabolism risk in women
top 5% journal
cited by 42 papers
research support, n.i.h., extramural
Nov '22
Eating only during early hours helps young adults lose weight and control blood sugar
top 10% journal
cited by 19 papers
journal article
Sep '17
Eating Later in the Day is Linked to Higher Body Fat
cited by 374 papers
observational study
Feb '21
Higher protein at breakfast or snacks and lower protein at dinner are linked to better heart and metabolism health in adults
top 5% journal
cited by 20 papers
evaluation study
Aug '23
Daily timing of eating habits in U.S. adults based on national health survey data
top 5% journal
cited by 23 papers
research support, n.i.h., extramural
Jul '24
Timing of Eating and Heart and Metabolic Health: Summary of Population Studies and Important Questions for Future Research
top 10% journal
cited by 33 papers
journal article