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Prolonged, Controlled Daytime versus Delayed Eating Impacts Weight and Metabolism
Kelly C Allison1, Christina M Hopkins1, Madelyn Ruggieri1
1Center for Weight and Eating Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Current Biology : CB
|December 1, 2020
Summary
Eating meals earlier in the day promotes weight loss and improves metabolism and insulin sensitivity in healthy adults. A daytime eating schedule is effective for real-world conditions.
Area of Science:
- Metabolic health and chronobiology
- Human metabolism and obesity research
Background:
- Delayed eating is linked to obesity and metabolic dysfunction.
- Limited controlled studies exist on meal timing's effects on weight and metabolism in healthy adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of a daytime versus delayed eating schedule on weight and metabolic parameters in adults with normal BMI.
- To assess the feasibility of a daytime eating schedule under free-living conditions.
Main Methods:
- A randomized crossover study with 12 healthy adults (BMI 19-27 kg/m²).
- Two 8-week conditions: daytime (0800-1900 h) vs. delayed (1200-2300 h) eating, with constant sleep-wake and exercise.
- Measurements included body weight, adiposity, energy expenditure, and metabolic/hormonal profiles.
Main Results:
- Daytime eating led to decreased body weight, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), trunk-to-leg fat ratio, resting energy expenditure, and improved glucose and lipid profiles compared to delayed eating.
- Delayed eating resulted in increased triglycerides.
- Circadian profiles of key hormones and metabolites were not significantly altered.
Conclusions:
- An 8-week daytime eating schedule promotes weight loss and improves metabolic health and insulin sensitivity in adults with normal BMI.
- Daytime eating is an effective and feasible behavioral modification for real-world application.
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