The earlier you eat the less weight you weigh - findings of a large-scale study

People who are prone to obesity at a genetic level may be more successful in losing weight and keeping it off if they start eating earlier in the day. This is the conclusion reached by researchers from the Complutense University of Madrid, Phys.org reported.

The study, published in the journal Obesity, found that eating early can reduce the influence of genetic factors on weight gain. Researchers analysed data from 1,195 overweight or obese adults (mean age 41 years, 80.8% women) who underwent a 16-week weight loss programme. An average of 12 years after completing therapy, they were followed up again.

The key variable was meal timing - more specifically, the midpoint between the first and last meal of the day. The scientists also calculated the individual polygenic risk of obesity based on more than 900,000 genetic markers. The model took into account the participants' age, gender, clinic and ethnicity.

The results showed that with each hour of later eating, body mass index (BMI) increased by 0.95kg/m² on average. After 12 years, participants' weight was 2.2 per cent higher compared to those who ate earlier. The association was particularly pronounced in people with the highest genetic predisposition to obesity: their BMI increased by 2.21 kg/m² for every hour they delayed eating. No such correlation was observed in the low-risk groups.

The authors emphasise that food rhythms affect the body's internal biological clock, including the liver, pancreas and adipose tissue. A mismatch between these rhythms and light-regulated circadian cycles can lead to metabolic disturbances.

"Our findings confirm that meal timing is an important factor in the fight against obesity and can be used for personalised weight management," the study concludes.

This finding is relevant in the context of developing weight loss strategies, especially for those who are genetically predisposed to weight gain. Proper dietary patterns may be as important as diet composition or physical activity.