Dados do Trabalho

Título

Association of eating jetlag with food consumption and BMI among US adults: Findings from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2018

Introdução

Studies have suggested that eating at later times may be a risk factor for overweight. In this same line, recent evidence pointed that varying the mealtime on the weekend in relation to weekdays seems to indicate a higher body mass index (BMI). However, the relationship of this variability with body mass, as well as, with food intake has been insufficient explored.

Objetivo

To investigate the associations of eating jetlag (the variability of the timing of the eating period on weekend and weekdays) with energy and nutrients intake and BMI. An additional objective was to study these associations according chronotype.

Métodos

We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2018 and a total of 1630 individuals were included in this study. The usual food consumption was estimated by the weighted average of food consumption on weekdays and weekends. Eating jetlag was calculated by the absolute difference between eating midpoint (the middle time point between the first and the last meal) on weekends and weekdays. Chronotype was assessed via mid-sleep time on weekend with correction for sleep debt. Linear regression was performed to determine the associations of eating jetlag with dietary and BMI. To assess the results of the additional aim, we categorized the sample according to chronotype tertil (first tertil indicate morningness tendency and the third tertil indicate evening tendency). Linear regression analysis was performed for each tertil of chronotype to determine the associations between eating jetlag and BMI and dietary variables.

Resultados

Associations of eating jetlag with anthropometric parameters, calories and nutrients (carbohydrate, protein, total fat, fiber, cholesterol and sugar) intake was not found. However, a positive association between eating jetlag and BMI were found in the third chronotype tertil (p<0.05). Among those with a tendency to morningness (first tertil), there was a positive association of eating jetlag with calories (p=0.002), carbohydrates (p=0.009), fat (p=0.02), cholesterol (p=0.01) and sugar (p=0.01) intake on the weekend, and a negative association with dietary fiber intake (p=0.04).

Conclusões

Eat meals later on weekend does not seem to influence food consumption or BMI. However, among individuals with evening tendency, delaying meals on weekends seems to reflect a higher BMI and, in individuals with morning tendency, eating later on weekends seems to promote a higher caloric intake on weekends.

Palavras -chave

Mealtime, Eating jetlag, Chronotype, BMI