Sex-specific Chrono-Nutritional Patterns and Association with Body Weight in a General Population in Spain (GCAT Study)

Abstract Background Altered meal timing patterns can disrupt the circadian system and affect metabolism. Our aim was to describe sex-specific chrono-nutritional patterns, assess their association with body mass index (BMI) and investigate the role of sleep in this relationship. Methods We used the 2018 questionnaire data from the population-based Genomes for Life (GCAT) (n = 7074) cohort of adults aged 40–65 in Catalonia, Spain, for cross-sectional analysis and its follow-up questionnaire data in 2023 (n = 3128) for longitudinal analysis. We conducted multivariate linear regressions to explore the association between mutually adjusted meal-timing variables (time of first meal, number of eating occasions, nighttime fasting duration) and BMI, accounting for sleep duration and quality, and additional relevant confounders including adherence to a Mediterranean diet. Finally, cluster analysis was performed to identify chrono-nutritional patterns, separately for men and women, and sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics were compared across clusters and analyzed for associations with BMI. Results In the cross-sectional analysis, a later time of first meal (β 1 h increase = 0.32, 95% CI 0.18, 0.47) and more eating occasions (only in women, β 1 more eating occasion = 0.25, 95% CI 0.00, 0.51) were associated with a higher BMI, while longer nighttime fasting duration with a lower BMI (β 1 h increase=-0.27, 95% CI -0.41, -0.13). These associations were particularly evident in premenopausal women. Longitudinal analyses corroborated the associations with time of first meal and nighttime fasting duration, particularly in men. Finally, we obtained 3 sex-specific clusters, that mostly differed in number of eating occasions and time of first meal. Clusters defined by a late first meal displayed lower education and higher unemployment in men, as well as higher BMI for both sexes. A clear “breakfast skipping” pattern was identified only in the smallest cluster in men. Conclusions In a population-based cohort of adults in Catalonia, we found that a later time of first meal was associated with higher BMI, while longer nighttime fasting duration associated with a lower BMI, both in cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses.