Researchers looked at data from nearly 2,000 randomly selected people to determine whether their biological clocks influenced what they ate and at what time. There were clear differences in energy and macronutrients between the two chronotypes, with morning people making healthier choices during the day. Evening types ate less protein in general and ate more sucrose in the morning. In the evening they ate more sucrose, fats and saturated fatty acids. On weekends, the differences between morning and evening people were even more pronounced, with evening types eating more irregular meals and having twice as many dining options. The evening types also slept worse and were less physically active in general.
Previous studies have shown that eating earlier in the day can help with weight loss and reduce the risk of developing diabetes and heart disease. What this new study shows is that our biological clock influences not only our metabolism, but also what we choose to eat.
