Timing could be a missing element in weight management efforts, say researchers
The regulation of weight loss is not simply dictated by the balance between energy intake and expenditure, but rather requires correctly timed food delivery, according to new research.
New research has brought a new player to the weight loss equation timing. The study, published in the International Journal of Obesity, suggests that while most weight loss plans and products focus on providing nutritionally balanced foods that help to reduce energy intakes, the industry could be missing a key factor in weight loss success by failing to add timing recommendations.
Led by Professor Marta Garaulet from the University of Murcia, Spain, the research international research team noted that there is emerging evidence to suggest a direct relationship between the timing of food intake and mechanisms of weight regulation.
"However, whether the timing of food intake influences the success of a weight-loss diet in humans is unknown," they said.
"This is the first large-scale prospective study to demonstrate that the timing of meals predicts weight-loss effectiveness," explained senior author of the study Dr Frank Scheer from Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA. "Our results indicate that late eaters displayed a slower weight-loss rate and lost significantly less weight than early eaters, suggesting that the timing of large meals could be an important factor in a weight loss program."
"This study emphasizes that the timing of food intake itself may play a significant role in weight regulation" he said.
Garaulet added that the findings emphasize that timing of food intake plays a significant role in weight regulation, adding that future products aimed at the weight management market should consider "not only the caloric intake and macronutrient distribution, as it is classically done, but also the timing of food."
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Timing weight loss: It’s not just what we eat but when we eat, say researchers
