Eating during the day prevents the weight gain and disrupted circadian rhythms associated with eating at night in a rat model of shift work, according to a study in the March issue of Endocrinology.

The researchers found that, while daily total food intake was similar in all groups, food intake during sleep hours was associated with flattened glucose and locomotor rhythms, increased body weight, and abdominal fat accumulation. Food intake restricted to normal activity hours reversed the metabolic disturbances and disruption of circadian rhythms and prevented the weight increase.

By Brandreflect