Study connects early breakfast and fasting to lower BMI in middle -aged adults

The time of meals-not just their content-could play an important role in maintaining a healthy body weight, according to a new five-year study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (Isglobal). Researchers found that middle -aged adults who ate breakfast early and expanded the overnight stay of their fasting period tend to have lower body mass indicators (BMIS).

The findings, published in the International Behavioral Nutrition and Physical activity magazine, are part of a growing field known as Chrononutrition, which explores how nutrition schedules are in line with the natural circadian rhythms of the body.

The study attended over 7,000 adults aged 40 to 65, all over the GCAT | Genomes for life work in Spain. Participants first provided information on nutrition, lifestyle and meal timetable in 2018. After five years, more than 3,000 returned for monitoring with up -to -date health data.

The results showed that those who started their day with a premature breakfast and had a longer overnight in general had a lower BMIS. “Extension of overnight stay could help maintain a healthy weight if accompanied by an early dinner and breakfast,” explained Luciana Pons-Muzzo, an Isglobal researcher at the time of the study. “This can be better aligned with the circadian rhythms and the support of appetite regulation and energy expenditure.”

The study also found important gender -based standards. On average, women had a lower BMIS, consumed healthy diets and drank less alcohol, although they reported worse mental health. Women were also more likely to take care and domestic responsibilities.

On the contrary, a small subgroup of men who delayed their first meal by 14:00 – effectively missing breakfast and fasting for about 17 hours – showed less healthy behaviors. These included higher rates of smoking and alcohol consumption, lower physical activity and poorer quality. This group also had lower educational levels and higher unemployment rates.

“These men were exercising a form of intermittent fasting, bypassing breakfast, but we found no relationship between this habit and improved weight results,” said Camille Lassale, Isglobal Researcher and a senior co-author. “Other studies in people with obesity have shown similar findings-the omission of breakfast is not necessarily an effective weight loss tool.”

The research adds to Isglobal’s growing work in Chrononutrition. Previous studies have linked early dinner and breakfast habits with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

“Chrononutrition not only examines what we eat, but when and how often,” said Anna Palomar-Cros, who signed the study. “The disorder of eating motifs can conflict with the circadian system – the inner clock of the body – may affect weight, metabolism and general health.”

While the study indicates a possible relationship between meal time and body weight, researchers warn that more elements are needed before making widespread nutrition recommendations. However, the findings emphasize the importance of aligning eating habits with the body’s natural rhythms to support long -term health.