By Montserrat Arqué
May 29, 2024, 16:29 PM EDT
In the world of nutrition, it is widely recognized that a balanced diet is crucial to maintaining good health. Numerous studies have shown that a balanced diet provides the essential nutrients that the body needs to function optimally, in addition to helping prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.
However, a new field of research, known as chrononutrition, is highlighting the importance of when we eat our food and how this can affect our health.
Chrononutrition studies how synchronizing meals with our circadian rhythms influences health. A study published in the journal Physiology & Behavior has revealed that eating at inappropriate times can significantly contribute to obesity. This study suggests that synchronizing meals with the body’s biological rhythms can improve weight control and metabolic health.
This is the worst time to eat, as it could promote obesity
A recent study conducted by researchers at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, South Korea, and involving nearly 10,000 people with an average age of 54, has shed light on the importance of avoiding eating late at night.
The results of this study, which analyzed data from 9,474 Korean adults, indicate that people who consume food after 9 p.m. are 20% more likely to become obese. This risk is even higher in men, who showed a 34% increase in the probability of developing obesity. Women, meanwhile, were more likely to gain abdominal fat due to late-night snacking.
Eating late at night can misalign the body’s biological clock, affecting hormone levels and increasing feelings of hunger. This can lead to increased food consumption and consequently weight gain.
Lack of sleep can also alter the hormones that regulate appetite, further increasing the risk of obesity. Modern social factors, such as long work hours, night shift work, and widespread use of electronic devices, have exacerbated circadian misalignment and its associated health risks.
In addition to meal timing, the study also examined the relationship between sleep duration and obesity. The results showed that sleeping less than 6 hours significantly increases the risk of obesity, especially in women. On the contrary, sleeping 8 hours or more is associated with a lower rate of obesity. These findings suggest that both meal timing and sleep quality play crucial roles in preventing obesity.
Keep reading:
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* Eat according to what your body asks of you: secrets of the intuitive diet