Associations between temporal eating patterns and body composition in young adults: a cross-sectional study.

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Chronobiology
• Human Physiology

Background:

• Temporal eating patterns, encompassing meal timing and duration, are increasingly recognized as critical factors influencing metabolic health.
• Understanding the relationship between eating schedules and body composition is essential for developing targeted health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the associations between specific temporal eating patterns and key body composition metrics.
• To analyze the impact of eating window duration, meal timing regularity (eating jet lag), and meal timing on lean mass and body fat percentage.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 7-day eat timing questionnaires and photographic food records to capture temporal eating patterns.
• Assessed body composition using bioelectrical impedance analysis in 131 participants.
• Employed multiple linear regression models, adjusting for age and eating midpoint where relevant, to determine associations.

Main Results:

• Later first and last eating occasions were associated with lower lean mass on weekdays and weekends.
• A longer eating window correlated with lower body fat percentage on weekdays and higher FFMI on weekends.
• Greater eating jet lag (variability in meal timing between weekdays and weekends) was linked to reduced lean mass.

Conclusions:

• Earlier and more consistent eating patterns demonstrate a potential benefit for maintaining favorable body composition.
• Findings suggest that optimizing meal timing regularity may be a viable strategy for improving body composition and metabolic health.