The body follows a natural circadian rhythm that regulates, among other things, sleep, appetite, and metabolism.
Researchers in chrononutrition, which examines how meal timing aligns with the body’s internal clock, have found that eating at irregular times may disrupt the body’s balance and affect how fat is stored and how blood sugar is regulated.
Sleep also appears to be linked to these patterns, according to ScienceAlert.
Differences in eating habits
A study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, involving more than 7,000 people aged 40 to 65, shows that eating habits vary widely.
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Some people eat late and skip breakfast, while others eat earlier in the day.
The results indicate that a late first meal and frequent eating are associated with a higher BMI.
Conversely, longer intervals between dinner and breakfast are linked to a lower BMI.
Some of the men also had unhealthy lifestyles involving smoking and alcohol, which makes the results more complex.
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Uncertainty in the findings
The study cannot prove that eating habits directly cause changes in weight.
The researchers accounted for factors such as age and sleep, but uncertainties remain.
The effect appears to be more pronounced in women before menopause.
Overall, the study suggests that longer overnight fasting and earlier meals may be associated with lower body weight, but this is not the only explanation.
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Further research is therefore needed, particularly studies that follow participants over a longer period.
Sources: ScienceAlert and International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.
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