Chrononutrition, eating behaviour, and metabolic health among obese patients elected for bariatric surgery

There is evidence of the impact of chrononutrition on weight loss and metabolic control. However, the precise chrononutrition behaviours that promote these benefits are not fully described, and there are doubts if chrononutrition may be related to other eating behaviour features. The main aim was to evaluate the associations between chrononutrition and eating behaviour, and their relationships with anthropometric and biochemical parameters among obese patients elected for bariatric surgery. Eighty participants (76.3% females, mean age = 45 years, mean BMI = 41.6 kg/m²) attending bariatric surgery consultations at Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João (Porto, Portugal) were assessed regarding chrononutrition (Chrononutrition Profile - Questionnaire) and eating behaviour (Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire - R21 and General Eating Self-Efficacy Scale). Height, weight, waist circumference, and biochemical values (total, HDL and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and glycated haemoglobin) were collected. Eating window midpoint was positively correlated with uncontrolled eating and negatively with eating self-efficacy. Sleep duration and midpoint on free days negatively correlated with eating self-efficacy, mainly due to later waking times, supporting that predominantly later energy consumption may negatively impact eating behaviour.