Weight-Loss Strategy

Timing Counts

When you eat may be just as important as what you eat during a weight-loss program.  Late eaters lost significantly less weight than early eaters in a recent study, suggesting that the timing of large meals can be an important factor.

Researchers monitored 420 overweight adults during a 20-week weight-loss program in Spain.  The group was divided into late eaters and early eaters of the day's main meal, which in this Mediterranean population was lunch.  The early eaters (about half of the group) ate the meal before 3 p.m., and the late eaters dined after 3 p.m.  Participants consumed about 40 percent of their total daily calories during this meal.

Energy intake, dietary composition, estimated energy expenditure, appetite hormones, and sleep duration were similar in both groups, but the late eaters lost less weight.  They also consumed fewer calories during breakfast (or were more likely to skip that meal altogether) and had lower estimated insulin sensitivity, a risk factor for diabetes.