Snacking Behavior Differs Between Evening and Morning Chronotype Individuals but Chronotype Is Not Associated With Energy Intake and Diet Quality

Abstract

Abstract Objectives There is a growing body of literature that links a person's preferred time for activities and sleep cycle, or chronotype, to eating behaviors and the risk of becoming overweight or obese. However, the relationships among chronotype, snacking behavior, diet quality, and food cravings are poorly characterized among US adults. This cross-sectional study examined the associations among chronotype, snacking habits, dietary intake and quality, and food cravings these relationships. Methods One-hundred adults (mean age: 28.4 ± 7.3 y; 63% female) living in the United States completed the study. Based on their score on the HorneÖstberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, an individual was categorized into morning-type (M-type), intermediate-type (I-type), or evening-type (E-type). Snack intake was assessed using a previously published specialized food frequency questionnaire. Diet quality was obtained using the Diet History Questionnaire III. The validated General Food Cravings Questionnaire-Trait measured cravings. General linear regression was used to assess differences in outcomes among chronotypes. Results Over the course of a week, E-type individuals consumed snacks more often than the M-type (E-type: 13.9 ± 4.5, M-type: 11.2 ± 4.6; P = 0.002), but not the I-type (10.1 ± 4.1; P = 0.086). In terms of timing of snacking, E-type individuals consumed more snacks after dinner than the M-type (E-type: 5.3 ± 1.6; M-type: 3.7 ± 2.2; P < 0.001). E-type individuals consumed more energy-dense snacks (E-type: 14.4 ± 4.4; M-type: 11.3 ± 4.7; P = 0.005), especially candies (E-type: 2.0 ± 1.0; M-type: 1.1 ± 0.9, P = 0.005), than the M-type. However, there were no significant differences in healthy snack frequency, food cravings, diet quality, and energy and macronutrient intake among chronotypes (P > 0.05, for all). Conclusions In this relatively young population, E-type individuals consumed snacks more frequently than M-types. However, chronotypes were not associated with an individual's energy intake, diet quality, and food cravings, which suggests that chronotype negligibly influences weight gain risk in this young adult population. Funding Sources USDA NIFA and Michigan AgBioResearch.