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It's not just what you eat that matters, it's when

Health & Medical

THE saying goes you shouldn’t snack after dinner if you want to lose weight.

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Now this idea is supported by growing scientific evidence.

A new study based at the University of Adelaide in South Australia will assess how important the timing of what you eat is for setting up the right biological processes to maintain optimal metabolism and healthy body weight.

“Studies in mice show that restricting the timing of what is eaten rather than necessarily the content can lead to maintaining a healthy metabolism,” said Associate Professor Leonie Heilbronn, who is leading the research.

“But in people there’s not yet a lot of evidence. We’re doing this study to see whether the timing factor also has an impact on health in humans.”

Professor Heilbronn recently published a review of the relevant studies underpinning this growing field of science. 

Her current research aims to expand these findings, and in particular to determine whether eating at night is detrimental on health.

Many of our body’s biological functions show differences in activity between night and day: this disparity is called a circadian rhythm, and operates roughly on a 24-hour cycle linked to sunlight.

When the system gets out of whack, our health can suffer – it’s why we feel so awful when we’re jetlagged.

Like sleep/wake cycles, metabolism may also have a circadian rhythm.

“Our gut, fat cells and liver all function differently during the night compared to the day,” explained Professor Heilbronn.  

“Maybe you’re just not supposed to see nutrients during the night time.”

Professor Heilbronn’s upcoming study will compare three groups of subjects to investigate how the timing of eating can change metabolism.

Participants will alter their food intake to take place from 7am-3pm, or 1pm-9pm, or maintain a more regular eating pattern of 3 meals a day.

“We will assess diabetes risk factors through assessing blood glucose levels, as well as cholesterol and triglycerides,” said Professor Heilbronn.

“We’re currently looking to recruit overweight men as volunteers.”

An email address has been set up for those interested in taking part in the study.

Associate Professor Leonie Heilbronn is a research leader at SAHMRI and the Robinson Research Institute at The University of Adelaide

This is a Creative Commons story from The Lead South Australia, a news service providing stories about innovation in South Australia. Please feel free to use the story in any form of media. The story sources are linked in with the copy and all contacts are willing to talk further about the story. Copied to Clipboard

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