Some people wake up early, while others do not feel tired until late at night. This is known as the body's circadian rhythm, according to HealthDay.
A study published in Frontiers in Nutrition suggests that this rhythm may also influence when we eat.
Researchers examined 287 women between the ages of 18 and 45. They assessed the participants' sleep patterns, eating habits, and overall health.
Eating earlier or later
The researchers found that the participants consumed roughly the same amount of food throughout the day. The difference lay in when they ate.
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Women who went to bed late ate less in the morning and more later in the evening and during the night.
According to the study, the body is less efficient at burning energy-dense foods at those times because it is naturally programmed to rest.
More body fat
Women with a late circadian rhythm were more likely to have higher levels of body fat, more abdominal fat, and higher cholesterol than women who woke up early.
They also showed poorer blood sugar regulation.
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The findings suggest that the timing of meals may be just as important as the amount of food consumed.
According to the researchers, reducing the number of late-night meals may help improve the health of people who are naturally most active in the evening.
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