Stability of the timing of food intake at daily and monthly timescales in young adults

Sci Rep. 2020 Nov 30;10(1):20849. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-77851-z.

Abstract

Cross-sectional observations have shown that the timing of eating may be important for health-related outcomes. Here we examined the stability of eating timing, using both clock hour and relative circadian time, across one semester (n = 14) at daily and monthly time-scales. At three time points ~ 1 month apart, circadian phase was determined during an overnight in-laboratory visit and eating was photographically recorded for one week to assess timing and composition. Day-to-day stability was measured using the Composite Phase Deviation (deviation from a perfectly regular pattern) and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were used to determine individual stability across months (weekly average compared across months). Day-to-day clock timing of caloric events had poor stability within individuals (~ 3-h variation; ICC = 0.12-0.34). The timing of eating was stable across months (~ 1-h variation, ICCs ranging from 0.54-0.63), but less stable across months when measured relative to circadian timing (ICC = 0.33-0.41). Our findings suggest that though day-to-day variability in the timing of eating has poor stability, the timing of eating measured for a week is stable across months within individuals. This indicates two relevant timescales: a monthly timescale with more stability in eating timing than a daily timescale. Thus, a single day's food documentation may not represent habitual (longer timescale) patterns.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Circadian Rhythm / physiology*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Eating / physiology
  • Energy Intake / physiology
  • Feeding Behavior / physiology*
  • Feeding Behavior / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Meals / psychology*
  • Time Factors
  • Young Adult