Since 1990, obesity rates have doubled among adults and quadrupled among adolescents, driven by factors like the shift to ultra-processed foods and less obvious causes, such as disrupted circadian rhythms. Recent research published in PNAS investigated how these rhythms affect eating behaviors. Led by Mary Carskadon, this study monitored 51 teenagers over 11 days, revealing that while both circadian rhythms and lifestyle influence caloric intake, the latter has a more pronounced effect. Findings suggested that irregular eating patterns, particularly in adolescents who are obese, correlate with a higher caloric consumption later in the day, confirming the importance of meal timing in weight management.
The study shows that adolescents suffering from obesity consumed more calories later in the day, whereas healthy weight participants peaked around 5:30 p.m. This highlights that the timing of food intake is crucial.
The circadian clock and lifestyle habits separately influence caloric intake, but eating habits are found to be more significant, indicating that routine and timing of meals can significantly impact weight.
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