The Meal Time Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The meal time study – you are when you eat
IRAS ID
232521
Contact name
Alexandra Johnstone
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Aberdeen
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 8 months, 30 days
Research summary
Dietary advice for weight management is broadly based on the assumption that a ‘calorie is a calorie’ and it does not matter when calories are consumed across the day. Recent evidence has challenged this assumption, suggesting that we may utilize calories more efficiently when consumed in the morning relative to the evening, and this could be used as a beneficial strategy for weight loss - this is a newly developing field of investigation which merges circadian biology with nutrition (chrono-nutrition).\n\nTiming of food consumption is a modifiable factor influencing energy balance and body weight (and thus, disease risk). Dietary intervention studies (1,2) show that calories ingested at different times of the day have different effects on energy utilization, leading to differential weight loss, even at iso-caloric amounts. The mechanisms involved are unclear, but may include (i) behavioural adaption such as altered physical activity or energy expenditure at other times of the day in response to the meal timing or, (ii) the influence of normal biological circadian/diurnal rhythms on energy metabolism at different times of the day. \n\nThis project will investigate the underlying biological and/or behavioural drivers that influence energy balance and thus, body weight in obese persons, relative to daily calorie distribution. Specifically, the project will investigate the mechanisms of energy expenditure that make consuming the largest meal of the day at breakfast (and smaller evening meal) important to influence daily energy balance. This study will be a cross-over study comparing large breakfast versus large evening meals (percent daily calories split between breakfast, lunch and dinner as 45-35-25 (breakfast-loaded) or 25-35-45 (evening-loaded)) during energy restriction (Fed to measured RMR) on energy balance, through differences in both physiological and behavioural changes in energy expenditure and substrate utilization. \n\n1. Jakubowicz et al. Obesity. 2013;21(12):2504-12\n2. Garaulet et al. Int J Obes. 2013;37(4):604-11\n
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1
REC reference
17/NS/0097
Date of REC Opinion
3 Oct 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion