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Is time of eating associated with BMI and obesity? A population-based study

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Abstract

Purpose

Time-related eating patterns have been associated with metabolic and nutritional diseases such as obesity. However, there is a lack of representative studies on this subject. This study's aim was to assess the association between the timing of eating and obesity in a large and representative sample of the Brazilian adult population (POF 2008–2009 survey).

Methods

Two days of adults’ food diary (n = 21,020) were used to estimate tertiles of first and last meal intake times, eating midpoint, caloric midpoint time, and calories consumed from 18:00 h onwards. BMI was estimated and its values, as well as excess weight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) were used as outcomes. Multiple linear and logistic regressions were performed.

Results

The first (β = 0.65, 95% CI 0.37–0.93) and last food intake time (β = 0.40, 95% CI 0.14–0.66), eating midpoint (β = 0.61, 95% CI 0.34–0.88) and calories consumed after 21:00 h (β = 0.74, 95% CI 0.32–1.16) and 22:00 h (β = 0.75, 95% CI 0.18–1.32) were positively associated with BMI. The likelihood of having excess weight or obesity was significantly higher in the third tertile of the first food intake time (OR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.13–1.45 and OR = 1.34, 95% CI 1.13–1.58, respectively), last food intake time (OR = 1.16, 95% CI 1.03–1.32; and OR = 1.18, 95% CI 1.00–1.41, respectively), eating midpoint (OR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.13–1.45; and OR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.14–1.59, respectively) and energy consumption after 21:00 h (OR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.10–1.59).

Conclusion

Chrononutrition meal patterns indicative of late meal intake were significantly associated with high BMI, excess weight and obesity in the Brazilian population.

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Data availability

The datasets analyzed in the current study are freely available on the IBGE website (https://www.ibge.gov.br/estatisticas/sociais/saude/24786-pesquisa-de-orcamentos-familiares-2.html).

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) and the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CAC and CRCM are CNPq fellows; CAC: #401761/2022-3 and 312309/2020-1; CRCM: #311278/2019) for financial support and the scholarship, and the University of Surrey for the IAS Fellowship to CAC in 2022.

Funding

This work was supported by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP), the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and the Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS) of the University of Surrey. CAC and CRCM are CNPq fellows—CAC: #401761/2022-3 and 312309/2020-1; CRCM: #311278/2019); CAC was awarded the IAS Fellowship by the University of Surrey in 2022.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chrononutrition Research Group, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Uberlândia, Av. Pará, 1720, Bloco 2U, Sala 20. Campus Umuarama, Uberlândia, MG, Zip Code: 38405-320, Brazil

    Cibele A. Crispim, Ana E. M. Rinaldi & Catarina M. Azeredo

  2. Chronobiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK

    Cibele A. Crispim & Debra J. Skene

  3. Department of Health, Life Cycles and Society, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Claudia R. C. Moreno

  4. Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden

    Claudia R. C. Moreno

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  1. Cibele A. Crispim
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  2. Ana E. M. Rinaldi
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  3. Catarina M. Azeredo
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  4. Debra J. Skene
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Contributions

CAC, CRCM and DJS participated in the planning, interpretation of results and writing of the manuscript. CAC performed the statistical analysis. CMA and AEMR participated in the interpretation of results, support on the statistical analysis and writing of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Cibele A. Crispim.

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Crispim, C.A., Rinaldi, A.E.M., Azeredo, C.M. et al. Is time of eating associated with BMI and obesity? A population-based study. Eur J Nutr 63, 527–537 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-023-03282-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-023-03282-x

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