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The timing of energy intake and its link to obesity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 January 2016

R. Tansey  and
H. Donald
R. Tansey
Affiliation:
Nutrition & Dietetics, Wansbeck Hospital, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9JJ
H. Donald
Affiliation:
School of Pharmacy & Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, AB10 7GJ
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Abstract

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Overweight and obesity currently accounts for 3·8 million deaths worldwide per annum (Reference Ng, Fleming and Robinson1). Reports have revealed that 24 % of adults in the UK are currently obese and this could reach up to 47 % by 2035 and 60 % by 2050 (Reference Kearns, Dee and Fitzgerald2). However the timing of energy intake can have an influence on body weight. In Italy 67 % of the population have their main meal at midday (Reference Salle-Della and Montecitorio3) and the prevalence of obesity is substantially less than the UK (7·6 % vs 20·1 %)(Reference Gallus, Bosetti and Chatenoud4). Eating more in the evening and late at night can increase the risk of obesity and consuming a greater proportion of the day's total energy intake at midday can reduce the risk. This method of weight management is termed Time Restricted Eating (TRE)(Reference Wang, Patterson and Ang5).

In order to assess the timing of energy an online questionnaire was developed. This was in two sections. The first section included questions relating to demographic information as well as meal pattern (time of day when the most and least amount of food is consumed), snacking habits, opinion on weight loss methods and familiarity with TRE. Disclosure of height, weight and weight status was not mandatory. Participants were then provided with a referenced written statement of evidence based on a study by Wang et al (Reference Jakubowicz, Barnea and Wainstein6) supporting the TRE theory. A total of 460 participants answered part one of the questionnaire. Part two of the questionnaire assessed if participants agreed or disagreed with this evidence and their views and barriers to having a greater proportion of energy intake at midday was investigated by asking if they ‘Agree’ or ‘Disagree’ with particular statements. The statements were based on a review of previous literature exploring the public's views and barriers to weight loss methods and were structured using the COM-B behaviour change model (Reference Michie, Van Stralen and West7). A total of 342 participants’ complete part two.

The study found that those who ate the least at midday had a higher BMI (p = 0·03) see figure 1 below. Figure 2 below illustrates the main barriers to consuming the greatest proportion of food a midday.

Figure 1

Mean BMI and time of day when least amount of food is eaten.

Figure 2

Main barriers to consuming the greatest proportion of food at midday.

After reading the statement of evidence, 64·1 % agreed that the timing of energy intake could influence weight and 87 % of those would consider changing the timing of their meals and snack in an effort to maintain or lose weight. This was independent of age, gender or BMI. Females were more likely than males (p = 0·049) and those who were gaining weight were also more willing to try TRE than those with a stable weight (p = 0·018).

Further research is needed to investigate how a weight management intervention using TRE could be developed using the COM-B Model of Behaviour Change.

References

1. Ng, M, Fleming, T, Robinson, M et al. (2014) The Lancet 384, 766–781.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2. Kearns, K, Dee, A, Fitzgerald, AP et al. (2014) Bio Med Central, Public Health 14, 143 1–10.Google Scholar
3. Salle-Della, R & Montecitorio, P (2013) Instituto Nazionale di Statistica available from: http://www.istat.it/en/files/2013/07/Sintesi_Rapp_Annuale_inglese.pdf (accessed 25 September 2015).Google Scholar
4. Gallus, S, Bosetti, C, Chatenoud, L et al. (2015) Preventative Medicine 70, 76–77.Google Scholar
5. Wang, JB, Patterson, RE, Ang, A et al. (2014) Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 27, 255–262.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6. Jakubowicz, D, Barnea, M, Wainstein, J et al. (2013) Clinical Science 125, 423–432.Google Scholar
7. Michie, S, Van Stralen, MM, West, R (2011) Implementation Science 6, 1–11.Google Scholar
Figure 0

Figure 1 Mean BMI and time of day when least amount of food is eaten.

Figure 1

Figure 2 Main barriers to consuming the greatest proportion of food at midday.