Early chronotype favors appetite and reduced later day caloric intake among adults with obesity

Abstract

Late chronotype (LC) is related to obesity and altered food intake throughout the day. But whether appetite perception and gut hormones differ among chronotypes is unclear. Thus, we examined if early chronotype (EC) have different appetite responses in relation to food intake than LC. Adults with obesity were categorized using the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) as either EC (n = 21, 18F, MEQ = 63.9 ± 1.0, 53.7 ± 1.2 yr, 36.2 ± 1.1 kg/m²) and LC (n = 28, 24F, MEQ = 47.2 ± 1.5, 55.7 ± 1.4 yr, 37.1 ± 1.0 kg/m²). Visual analog scales were used during a 120 min 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 30 min intervals to assess appetite perception, as well as glucose, insulin, GLP-1 (glucagon-like polypeptide-1), GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotrophic peptide), PYY (protein tyrosine tyrosine), and acylated ghrelin. Dietary intake (food logs), resting metabolic rate (RMR; indirect calorimetry), aerobic fitness (maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂max)), and body composition dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were also assessed. Age, body composition, RMR, and fasting appetite were similar between groups. However, EC had higher satisfaction and fullness as well as reduced desires for sweet, salty, savory, and fatty foods during the OGTT (P <0.05). Only GIP tAUC_{0-120 min} was elevated in EC versus LC (p = 0.01). Daily dietary intake was similar between groups, but EC ate fewer carbohydrates (p = 0.05) and more protein (p = 0.01) at lunch. Further, EC had lower caloric (p = 0.03), protein (p = 0.03) and fat (p = 0.04) intake during afternoon snacking compared to LC. Dietary fat was lower, and carbohydrates was higher, in EC than LC (p = 0.05) at dinner. Low glucose and high insulin as well as GLP-1 tAUC_{60-120 min} related to desires for sweet foods (p < 0.05). Taken together, EC had more favorable appetite and lower caloric intake later in the day compared with LC.

Keywords: Obesity; circadian rhythm; gut hormones; insulin resistance; nutrition; weight management.