Later circadian timing of food intake is associated with increased body fat

Abstract

Weight gain and obesity have reached alarming levels. Eating at a later clock hour is a newly described risk factor for adverse metabolic health; yet, how eating at a later circadian time influences body composition is unknown. Using clock hour to document eating times may be misleading owing to individual differences in circadian timing relative to clock hour. This study examined the relations between the timing of food consumption relative to clock hour and endogenous circadian time, content of food intake, and body composition. We enrolled 110 participants, aged 18-22 y, in a 30-d cross-sectional study to document sleep and circadian behaviors within their regular daily routines. We used a time-stamped-picture mobile phone application to record all food intake across 7 consecutive days during a participant's regular daily routines and assessed their body composition and timing of melatonin release during an in-laboratory assessment. Nonlean individuals (high body fat) consumed most of their calories 1.1 h closer to melatonin onset, which heralds the beginning of the biological night, than did lean individuals (low body fat) (log-rank = 0.009). In contrast, there were no differences between lean and nonlean individuals in the clock hour of food consumption ( = 0.72). Multiple regression analysis showed that the timing of food intake relative to melatonin onset was significantly associated with the percentage of body fat and body mass index (both < 0.05) while controlling for sex, whereas no relations were found between the clock hour of food intake, caloric amount, meal macronutrient composition, activity or exercise level, or sleep duration and either of these body composition measures (all > 0.72). These results provide evidence that the consumption of food during the circadian evening and/or night, independent of more traditional risk factors such as amount or content of food intake and activity level, plays an important role in body composition. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02846077.

Circadian nutritional behaviours and cancer risk: New insights from the NutriNet‐santé prospective cohort study: Disclaimers

“…Another cross‐sectional study detected an association between time‐delayed eating patterns (especially night eating syndrome) and elevated body mass index (BMI) . A recent randomized controlled trial (RCT) showed that eating at a later circadian time was associated with an increased BMI and a different body composition . In turn, reduced intake at dinner was found to be protective against obesity and metabolic syndrome .…”

“…15 A recent randomized controlled trial (RCT) showed that eating at a later circadian time was associated with an increased BMI and a different body composition. 16 In turn, reduced intake at dinner was found to be protective against obesity and metabolic syndrome. 17 One recent prospective study found that prolonging the duration of night-time fasting could be beneficial for reducing the risk of recurrence among breast cancer survivors, 18 whereas a recent RCT found that prolonging the duration of night-time fasting by breakfast skipping increased the inflammatory potential of peripheral blood cells.…”

Circadian phase, circadian period and chronotype are reproducible over months

“…Circadian misalignment (sleeping, working, eating, etc. at the wrong phases of the internal circadian clock) results in poor sleep and health and performance decrements (Akerstedt et al, 1984; Archer & Oster, 2015; Gold et al, 1992; Kantermann et al, 2012; Lunn et al, 2017; McHill et al, 2017; Smith & Eastman, 2012). Hence, maintaining the proper alignment between circadian rhythms and the sleep schedule is essential for health and safety.…”

Timing of food intake impacts daily rhythms of human salivary microbiota: a randomized, crossover study

“…Recent studies suggest that not only what we eat, but also when we eat may have a significant role in obesity treatment and metabolic alterations (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6). Unusual feeding times can induce a disruption of the circadian system, which may lead to metabolic dysfunction (7)(8)(9)(10)(11).…”