The effects of chrononutrition, chronotype and sleep behavior variabilities on adiposity traits and appetite sensations among a sample of urban Malaysian adults: a cross-sectional study

Background We investigated the association of chrononutrition (circadian timing of food intake) and sleep behavior (sleep time, wake up time, sleep duration) variabilities, and chronotype with adiposity traits and appetite sensations among a sample of urban Malaysian adults at Sunway City. Methods A total of 220 participants (M/F = 57/163; aged 22.02 ± 5.19), recorded their meal times, dietary intake, and appetite sensations (via Visual Analogue Scale) before and after meals, for two weekdays and one weekend. Sleep behavior was tracked objectively using an activity wristband, while chronotype was assessed by the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire. Anthropometrics and body compositions like waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio (WHR), body mass index (BMI), total body fat (TBF), visceral fat level (VFL), skeletal muscle percentage (SM) and resting metabolism (RM) were measured. Results Chrononutrition and sleep behaviors did not differ significantly between genders, but overall participants had significantly later breakfast, lunch, eating midpoint, wake up time, sleep duration, lunch and afternoon latencies during weekend, compared to weekdays. Those who belonged to the delay eating jetlag group had significantly higher weekday, but lower weekend eating windows. Larger caloric intake later in the day was significantly associated with lower BMI, TBF and VFL, but higher SM. Interestingly, higher days of skipping breakfast were significantly associated with lower WC, WHR, and RM. Delay lunch and eating jetlag classes were significantly associated with higher WHR and SM, respectively. Delayed morning and afternoon chrononutrition behaviors were associated with higher hunger and eating thoughts, and lower fullness sensations pre- and post-meals. The morning chronotype was associated with lower satisfaction and fullness sensations post-breakfast, but higher same sensations pre-dinner. Conclusions In conclusion, our study found that larger caloric intake later in the day and advanced lunch jetlag led to lower adiposity, which could be due to lower pre- and post-meal hunger sensations associated with healthier chrononutrition behaviors and morning chronotype. However, the notion of breakfast-skipping leading to obesity was not supported. Here, we offered new insights into modern eating and sleeping habits influencing adiposity and appetite sensations.