Chrononutrition behavior patterns and adiposity markers in adults with overweight and obesity (GenON Program)

Abstract

Objective

To investigate chrononutrition patterns and their relationship with adiposity in adults with overweight and obesity.

To investigate chrononutrition patterns and their relationship with adiposity in adults with overweight and obesity.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 113 adults from the baseline data of the GenON program. The study was approved by the CEP-UFV (No. 7,283,411) and registered at the ReBEC (RBR-8csbc2g). Chrononutrition variables were obtained from three food records (two weekdays and one weekend day), including the timing of the first (FEO) and last (LEO) eating occasions, the eating midpoint (EM), and the eating window (EW). These variables were standardized as z-scores and analyzed using k-means clustering, with the optimal number of clusters determined by the Elbow method. Comparisons between clusters included chrononutrition variables, BMI, body fat mass (BFM), and trunk fat mass (TFM). We performed ANOVA or Kruskal–Wallis tests with appropriate post-hoc analyses (R software, v. 4.5.2, alpha < 5%).

This cross-sectional study included 113 adults from the baseline data of the GenON program. The study was approved by the CEP-UFV (No. 7,283,411) and registered at the ReBEC (RBR-8csbc2g). Chrononutrition variables were obtained from three food records (two weekdays and one weekend day), including the timing of the first (FEO) and last (LEO) eating occasions, the eating midpoint (EM), and the eating window (EW). These variables were standardized as z-scores and analyzed using k-means clustering, with the optimal number of clusters determined by the Elbow method. Comparisons between clusters included chrononutrition variables, BMI, body fat mass (BFM), and trunk fat mass (TFM). We performed ANOVA or Kruskal–Wallis tests with appropriate post-hoc analyses (R software, v. 4.5.2, alpha < 5%).

Results

Participants (33 men and 80 women) had a mean age of 36.8 ± 8.1 years and mean BMI of 33.3 ± 3.3 kg/m². We identified 3 clusters: cluster 1 showed early eating onset [7.53 (7.14–8.00)], late LEO [20.83 (20.33–21.45)], intermediate EM [14.20 (13.91–14.61)], and the largest EW [13.17 (12.72–14.13)]. Cluster 2 presented a more advanced and restricted pattern, with earlier FEO [8.00 (7.33–8.33)] and LEO [19.50 (18.86–19.67)], lower EM [13.65 (13.19–14.03)], and shorter EW [11.61 (10.72–12.08)]. Cluster 3 had later FEO [9.65 (9.10–10.33)] and LEO [21.17 (20.51–22.28)], higher EM [15.42 (15.04–15.95)], and EW similar to cluster 2 [11.53 (10.62–12.33)]. There were significant differences for BMI (P = 0.018), BFM (P = 0.002), and TFM (P = 0.003), with the highest values in cluster 3 [34.7 ± 3.3 kg/m², 41.3 ± 7.4 kg, and 21.1 ± 3.3 kg, respectively] compared with cluster 1 [32.7 ± 3.0 kg/m², 34.9 ± 8.0 kg, and 18.4 ± 3.7 kg] and cluster 2 [32.8 ± 3.4 kg/m², 36.4 ± 7.8 kg, and 18.9 ± 3.5 kg].

Participants (33 men and 80 women) had a mean age of 36.8 ± 8.1 years and mean BMI of 33.3 ± 3.3 kg/m². We identified 3 clusters: cluster 1 showed early eating onset [7.53 (7.14–8.00)], late LEO [20.83 (20.33–21.45)], intermediate EM [14.20 (13.91–14.61)], and the largest EW [13.17 (12.72–14.13)]. Cluster 2 presented a more advanced and restricted pattern, with earlier FEO [8.00 (7.33–8.33)] and LEO [19.50 (18.86–19.67)], lower EM [13.65 (13.19–14.03)], and shorter EW [11.61 (10.72–12.08)]. Cluster 3 had later FEO [9.65 (9.10–10.33)] and LEO [21.17 (20.51–22.28)], higher EM [15.42 (15.04–15.95)], and EW similar to cluster 2 [11.53 (10.62–12.33)]. There were significant differences for BMI (P = 0.018), BFM (P = 0.002), and TFM (P = 0.003), with the highest values in cluster 3 [34.7 ± 3.3 kg/m², 41.3 ± 7.4 kg, and 21.1 ± 3.3 kg, respectively] compared with cluster 1 [32.7 ± 3.0 kg/m², 34.9 ± 8.0 kg, and 18.4 ± 3.7 kg] and cluster 2 [32.8 ± 3.4 kg/m², 36.4 ± 7.8 kg, and 18.9 ± 3.5 kg].

Conclusion

Later eating behavior patterns were positively associated with total and central adiposity, reinforcing the relevance of chrononutrition on obesity management.

Later eating behavior patterns were positively associated with total and central adiposity, reinforcing the relevance of chrononutrition on obesity management.