Eating Earlier May Help Genes Keep Weight in Check

Original Article: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/eating-earlier-may-help-genes-keep-weight-check-2025a1000kbn

New Research

Researchers looked at 1,195 overweight or obese adults (average age around 41 years, 81% women) enrolled in a standardized weight-loss program. They tracked when participants naturally ate—using the midpoint between their first and last meals—to examine how eating time relates to body weight, weight-loss progress, and long-term maintenance. They also calculated each person’s genetic risk for obesity using a polygenic risk score (i.e., assessed their genetic make-up), dividing participants into low, medium, and high-risk groups.

Findings: Eating Time, Genetics, and Weight

Participants with a high genetic risk for obesity who ate later in the day had higher body mass index (BMI), slower weight loss, and worse long-term weight-loss maintenance. In other words, for people with stronger genetic links to obesity, eating earlier helped keep weight in check. This connection wasn’t seen in those with medium or low genetic risk.

Why It Matters

The study shows that when you eat could matter as much as what you eat—especially for people who carry genes that make them prone to obesity. For those with high genetic risk, shifting meals to earlier in the day may improve weight-loss results and help maintain weight loss over time. It suggests a more personalized approach to diet, where meal timing might be adjusted based on a person’s genetic profile.