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Association between circadian rest-activity rhythm and meal timing: NHANES 2013-2014
Velarie Y Ansu-Baidoo1, Roberto Refinetti2, Joon Chung3
1Center for Translational Sleep and Circadian Sciences, Department of Psychiatry, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA.
Sleep Health
|June 3, 2026
Summary
Later last meals are linked to later sleep-wake cycles (acrophase) in Mexican American and Black adults compared to White adults. This highlights racial/ethnic differences in circadian rhythms and meal timing.
Area of Science:
- Chronobiology
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Rest-activity rhythms, assessed via actigraphy, are crucial for health.
- Meal timing is increasingly recognized as a factor influencing circadian rhythms.
- Racial/ethnic variations in lifestyle may impact circadian alignment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between actigraphy-derived rest-activity rhythm and meal timing.
- To investigate if race/ethnicity modifies these associations.
- To explore potential racial/ethnic differences in circadian responses to meal timing.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2014).
- Derived 24-hour rest-activity metrics (acrophase) using cosinor analysis from actigraphy.
- Analyzed race × meal-timing interaction terms to assess differential associations.
Main Results:
- Significant interactions were found between acrophase and the timing of the last meal (P-interaction = .02).
- Later last meals correlated with later acrophase in Mexican American and Black adults.
- No significant associations were observed for other exposure-outcome pairs (P > .05).
Conclusions:
- Mexican American and Black adults with later last meals showed a later acrophase compared to White adults.
- Findings suggest that the relationship between meal timing and circadian phase varies by race/ethnicity.
- Highlights the need for culturally tailored approaches in circadian nutrition research.
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