Inconsistent eating time is associated with obesity: A prospective study

Obesity is characterized by an accumulation of redundant body fat linked to metabolic dysregulation and low-grade systemic inflammation. Lifestyle choices are imperative determining factors of obesity. The contemporary lifestyle is associated with behaviors that disrupt circadian rhythms, impacting metabolic homeostasis. Our animal and human studies suggest that circadian phenotypes could be related to the risk of metabolic dysregulation and obesity. The purpose of this study is to examine the role of inconsistent eating habits on body weight in adults. Individuals who presented for colon cancer screening were enrolled. Subjects received structured questionnaires to capture 7-day eating and sleeping times in a week prospectively. Bodyweight and height were extracted from medical records, and Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated. Inconsistent eating times were defined as an average difference of >2 hours between the largest meal on weekdays and weekends. Forty-nine of the 61 (80.3 %) individuals enrolled in the study completed the questionnaires. The mean age and standard deviation (SD) were 60.8 (7.9), and 27 (55.1 %) were male. Subjects with inconsistent eating times had a significantly higher BMI (33.8 ± 3.6 SD, n = 9) than subjects who did not (27.5 ± 6.5 SD, n = 40; p = 0.001). The highest BMI was observed in subjects who ate inconsistently and late (35.8 ± 4.6 SD). In this cross-sectional study, time of eating habits was associated with BMI. Controlled cohort studies are needed to determine the potential link between eating time and the risk of obesity in the long term.