Later circadian timing of food intake is associated with increased body fat

Andrew W. McHill, Andrew JK Phillips, Charles A. Czeisler, Leigh Keating, Karen Yee, Laura K. Barger, Marta Garaulet, Frank A.J.L. Scheer, Elizabeth B. Klerman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

283 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Weight gain and obesity have reached alarming levels. Eating at a later clock hour is a newly described risk factor for adverse metabolic health; yet, how eating at a later circadian time influences body composition is unknown. Using clock hour to document eating times may be misleading owing to individual differences in circadian timing relative to clock hour. Objective: This study examined the relations between the timing of food consumption relative to clock hour and endogenous circadian time, content of food intake, and body composition. Design: We enrolled 110 participants, aged 18-22 y, in a 30-d crosssectional study to document sleep and circadian behaviors within their regular daily routines. We used a time-stamped-picture mobile phone application to record all food intake across 7 consecutive days during a participant's regular daily routines and assessed their body composition and timing of melatonin release during an in-laboratory assessment. Results: Nonlean individuals (high body fat) consumed most of their calories 1.1 h closer to melatonin onset, which heralds the beginning of the biological night, than did lean individuals (low body fat) (logrank P = 0.009). In contrast, there were no differences between lean and nonlean individuals in the clock hour of food consumption (P = 0.72). Multiple regression analysis showed that the timing of food intake relative to melatonin onset was significantly associated with the percentage of body fat and body mass index (both P < 0.05) while controlling for sex, whereas no relations were found between the clock hour of food intake, caloric amount, meal macronutrient composition, activity or exercise level, or sleep duration and either of these body composition measures (all P > 0.72). Conclusions: These results provide evidence that the consumption of food during the circadian evening and/or night, independent of more traditional risk factors such as amount or content of food intake and activity level, plays an important role in body composition. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02846077.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1213-1219
Number of pages7
JournalThe American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Volume106
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Body composition
  • Caloric intake
  • Melatonin
  • Metabolism
  • Sleep duration

Cite this