Evidence mounts connecting increased weight to meal frequencies
Rewritten Article
Late-Night Eats and Weight Gain: The Growing Evidence
With adult obesity rates in the US skyrocketing, finding effective ways to combat this epidemic is more critical than ever. As researchers scramble to discover solutions, one intriguing theory has emerged: delaying meal times could hold the key.
From surgery and medication to strict diets and psychological interventions, scientists are investigating a multitude of options to curb obesity. But the idea of adjusting our eating patterns to influence weight gain is gaining traction. If a slight change in meal timing could contribute to weight loss, it's worth exploring. After all, sticking to a restrictive diet can be challenging, but changing meal times might be more manageable.
So, does eating later in the day truly impact weight? A recent study by researchers at the University of Colorado in Denver sheds light on this question.
The Link Between Dinner Time and Weight Gain
Earlier studies have hinted at a connection between eating later and increased weight gain. For instance, one study concluded that consuming calories after 8:00 PM might boost the risk of obesity.
However, there's a catch: individuals who eat later in the day may also have less sleep overall. Since lack of sleep is also believed to contribute to obesity, disentangling the relationship between meal timing and weight has been challenging.
Lead researcher Dr. Adnin Zaman explains, "Few studies have examined both meal and sleep timing in adults with obesity, and it's unclear whether eating after sunset is associated with reduced sleep duration or higher body fat." To get a clearer picture, the scientists presented their findings at the ENDO 2019 conference in New Orleans, LA.
The researchers recruited 31 adults with an average age of 36 years who were overweight or obese. To gather as much relevant data as possible, they assessed the participants' sleep patterns, levels of physical activity, and diet habits.
Each participant wore an Actiwatch that tracked their sleep-wake cycles. They also wore an activPAL electronic device on their thigh, which measured their active and sedentary hours. Participants used a phone app called MealLogger to document every meal and snack, providing details on the time of day they consumed each item. The researchers cross-checked these entries using a continuous glucose monitor.
Sleep, Dinner Time, and Obesity
The analysis revealed that, on average, participants consumed their meals during a 11-hour window and slept for 7 hours each night. Notably, those who ate later in the day had a higher BMI and higher levels of body fat. Importantly, the researchers found that these participants still managed to get an average of 7 hours of sleep, suggesting that sleep duration may not be the primary driver of these effects.
"Our novel approach shows that individuals with overweight and obesity may be eating later into the night," Dr. Zaman remarked. This preliminary trial is part of an ongoing project to dive deeper into these relationships.
Dr. Zaman notes, "Our findings support our overall study, which is investigating whether restricting meal times to earlier in the day could lower the risk of obesity." Experiments like this one are only possible now thanks to modern technological advancements. Dr. Zaman elaborated, "With wearable activity monitors and smartphones becoming ubiquitous in our modern society, it may soon be possible to consider the timing of behaviors across 24 hours in how we approach the prevention and treatment of obesity."
However, since this is a small-scale, short-term study, it's essential to approach the findings cautiously. Future results from the full study and similar experiments with individuals with a healthy body weight will help to further validate these findings. As the current research aligns with that of earlier investigations, the timing of meals may soon become an increasingly important consideration in the fight against obesity.
- Researchers are exploring various methods to combat rising obesity rates, including adjusting meal times as a potential solution for weight loss.
- One study suggests that eating after 8:00 PM might increase the risk of obesity, but the relationship between meal timing and sleep patterns has been challenging to dissect.
- In a recent study led by Dr. Adnin Zaman, researchers assessed the sleep patterns, diet habits, and physical activity levels of 31 adults with overweight or obesity.
- The findings showed that late-night eaters had a higher BMI and higher levels of body fat, suggesting a potential independent link between meal timing and obesity.
- While these participants still got an average of 7 hours of sleep, sleep duration may not be the primary driver of these effects, according to the researchers.
- The researchers also noted that this small-scale and short-term study requires further validation through future research with individuals of healthy body weight.
- With advancements in technology, such as wearable activity monitors and smartphones, it may soon be possible to consider the timing of behaviors across 24 hours in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases like obesity, type-2 diabetes, and chronic kidney disease.
