Meal timing influences daily caloric intake in healthy adults

Eating later in the evening is associated with higher total caloric intake.

• Meal timing may influence overall energy intake but not body mass index (BMI).
• Eating more frequently and having the last meal closer to sleep onset is linked to increased caloric intake.
• A shorter duration between the last meal and sleep onset predicts higher total daily caloric intake.
• Eating frequency mediates the relationship between late meal timing and total caloric intake.
• These findings suggest that later meal timing could contribute to weight gain through increased eating occasions.

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