Impact of Meal Timing and Chronotype on Food Reward and Appetite Control in Young Adults.

Kristine Beaulieu,Jonas Salling Quist,Pauline Oustric,Hanne Pedersen,Shaea Alkahtani,Maha Alhussain,Graham Finlayson,Kristine Færch

doi:10.3390/nu12051506

Kristine Beaulieu, Jonas Salling Quist + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12051506

Copy DOI

Abstract

Early meal timing and chronotype are associated with lower BMI, but their impact on appetite is poorly understood. We examined the impact of meal timing and chronotype on appetite and food reward. Forty-four adults were divided into early (EC; Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) score = 55 ± 5) or late chronotype (LC; MEQ score = 40 ± 6) and assessed for body mass index, habitual energy intake (EI; three-day online dietary record) and eating behavior traits from the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ). Participants attended the laboratory after ≥3 h fast on two occasions for early (AM; 8–10 a.m.) and late (PM; 4–6 p.m.) counterbalanced testing sessions in a 2 × 2 design. Appetite ratings and food reward (validated diurnal Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire) were measured in response to a standardized test meal. LC was associated with higher BMI (p = 0.01), but not with EI or TFEQ. The composite appetite score was lower in AM than PM (MΔ= −5 (95% CI −10, −0.2) mm, p = 0.040). Perceived test meal fillingness was higher in AM than PM and EC compared to LC (p ≤ 0.038). Liking and wanting high-fat food were lower in AM than PM (p ≤ 0.004). The late chronotype was associated with greater desire for high-fat food (p = 0.006). To conclude, early meal timing and early chronotype are independently associated with smaller appetite and lower desire for high-fat food.

Highlights

Human eating patterns are heterogeneous and erratic [1], and meal timing is variously influenced by socio-cultural [2] and hereditary [3] factors
An accumulating body of research indicates that the timing of food intake can influence energy balance and metabolism, with evening eating associated with greater energy intake and BMI compared to morning eating [4,5,6]
Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) score was not associated with other anthropometric variables, Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) factors or habitual energy intake

Summary

Introduction

Human eating patterns are heterogeneous and erratic [1], and meal timing is variously influenced by socio-cultural [2] and hereditary [3] factors. An accumulating body of research indicates that the timing of food intake can influence energy balance and metabolism, with evening eating associated with greater energy intake and BMI compared to morning eating [4,5,6]. Scientific bodies recognize that patterns of daily energy intake, including meal timing and frequency, influence the management of body weight and cardiometabolic risk [7]. While the mechanisms for these effects are yet to be fully elucidated, they could include an altered metabolic response to meals [11,12], satiety [13], food choice and macronutrient composition [1,4] or other energy balance-related behaviors such as physical activity [12]. Observational evidence suggests the satiety value of food may be greater earlier in the day compared to later [13,14]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion