Eating earlier would reduce the risk of obesity, an easy way to lose weight!

Previous studies have already focused on the relationship between weight gain and mealtime. However, scientists have wanted to explore this relationship and the biological mechanisms involved. According to their results, taking the meal late in the day can cause a biological change. The level of hunger, fat storage and the amount of calories burned may be affected.

Currently, hundreds of millions of people around the globe suffer from obesity. Nevertheless, this new study brings a new solution to this problem thanks to a better understanding of the body. Concretely, it would seem that each individual can reduce the risk of obesity simply by eating a few hours earlier.

Regarding the results, the authors of the study published them in Cell Metabolism on October 4, 2022.

An easy way to lose weight?

The study shows that eating at late hours lowers the level of the hormone called leptin over a period of 24 hours. Said hormone has the role of indicating to the person that he is satiated. Therefore, the reduced amount of leptin increases the feeling of hunger. On the other hand, the body burns calories more slowly.

Furthermore, the gene expression of adipose tissue decreases the process of lipolysis and increases that of adipogenesis. The first process involves the breakdown of fat, while the second increases the development of fatty tissue. In other words, eating late meals promotes fat storage.

Therefore, this research highlights a new way to lose weight without necessarily adopting a slimming diet or doing more exercises. To do this, the data subject can simply start eating a few hours earlier.

Experiments with strict conditions

As part of their study, the researchers asked sixteen people to participate in closely controlled research. For the purposes of the experiments, the volunteers had to be overweight or obese.

Scientists have established two feeding protocols, one early and the other late, in which each individual must participate. During the first, participants eat 1 h, 5 h 10 min and 9 h 20 min after waking up. For the second, they take their meal 4 hrs 10 mins later compared to the early feeding protocol.

Between passages in the laboratory, the volunteers spent several weeks returning to their normal habit. However, they spent two to three weeks with a fixed sleep and wake cycle before each experiment. During the last three days of this ambulatory period, they must follow a diet prepared in advance, calculated and timed. The goal is to minimize the risk of eating habits interfering with experiences.

SOURCE: SCIENCEALERT