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

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to examine the associations between body composition and temporal eating patterns, including time of first eating occasion, time of last eating occasion, eating window, and eating jet lag (the variability in meal timing between weekdays and weekends).

Methods

A total of 131 participants were included in the study. Temporal eating pattern information was collected through consecutive 7-day eat timing questionnaires and photographic food records. Body composition was assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Multiple linear regression models were used to evaluate the relationships of temporal eating patterns with body composition, and age was adjusted. Eating midpoint was additionally adjusted in the analysis of eating window.

Results

On weekdays, both later first eating occasion and last eating occasion were associated with lower lean mass, and longer eating window was associated with lower body fat percentage. On weekends, both later first eating occasion and last eating occasion were associated with lower lean mass, and longer eating window was associated with higher FFMI. Longer first eating occasion jet lag was associated with lower lean mass.

Conclusion

Our study suggested that earlier and more regular eating patterns may have a benefit on body composition.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available upon request from the corresponding author.

Abbreviations

BMI:

body mass index

FFMI:

fat-free mass index

FMI:

fat mass index

SD:

standard deviation

TRE:

time-restricted eating

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank all those who volunteered to take part in this research.

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Fund of China (82204038) and Scientific Research Program of Hubei Education Department (B2022025). The funding sources had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

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Author notes

  1. Yuchi Wu and Qi Nie contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition Hygiene and Toxicology, Academy of Nutrition and Health, School of Public Health, Medical College, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, No. 10, Huangjiahu Road, Wuhan, China

    Yuchi Wu, Qi Nie, Yuqian Wang, Yuqin Liu, Weibo Liu, Tian Wang, Yaling Zhang, Sisi Cao, Zhengrong Li, Jianghong Zheng, Zichun Nie & Li Zhou

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  1. Yuchi Wu
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Contributions

Yuchi Wu and Qi Nie designed the study. Qi Nie analyzed the data and Yuchi Wu wrote the manuscript. Yuqian Wang, Yuqin Liu, Weibo Liu, Tian Wang, Yaling Zhang, Sisi Cao, Zhengrong Li, Zichun Nie and Jianghong Zheng conducted the experiments and performed the data collection. Li Zhou commented on drafts and edited the manuscript. Li Zhou had full access to all the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Li Zhou.

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Approval of the Ethics and Human Subject Committee of Wuhan University of Science and Technology (No. 202250) was obtained before the start of the work.

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Wu, Y., Nie, Q., Wang, Y. et al. Associations between temporal eating patterns and body composition in young adults: a cross-sectional study. Eur J Nutr (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-024-03414-x

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