Early Meals and Overnight Fasting May Support Healthy Weight

Maintaining a healthy weight may depend not just on diet, but also on when you eat. A study in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, found that longer overnight fasting and earlier breakfasts are linked to lower body mass index (BMI). The research analysed data from over 7,000 adults aged 40–65 in the GCAT cohort by the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute.

Follow-ups after five years showed that eating earlier aligns better with circadian rhythms, improving metabolism and appetite control. Women generally had lower BMI and healthier habits, while a subgroup of men who skipped breakfast showed no weight benefit. This pattern, linked to intermittent fasting, was not more effective than calorie reduction.

The findings fall under chrononutrition, which studies meal timing and the body’s internal clock. Earlier eating patterns may also reduce risks of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

04-04-2026