“Eveningness in energy intake” develops from childhood to adolescence and is associated with higher total daily energy intake

Background:

The ability to compensate for a high energy intake seems to be specific to age (in adults less than in children) and day-time (in the evening less than in the morning). Using a multiple cross-sectional analyses design, the present study therefore addressed two hypotheses: 1) As children age, they progressively shift their energy intake from morning (EI_morning: energy intake before 11 am) to evening hours (EI_evening: energy intake after 6 pm). 2) A more pronounced “eveningness in energy intake” is associated with a higher total daily energy intake (TDEI).

Methods:

Data were analyzed from 262 DOrtmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed (DONALD) open-cohort study participants, who had completed at least one 3-day weighed dietary record at ages 3/4, 5/6, 7/8, 9/10, 11/12, 13/14, 15/16 and 17/18 years (y). For every age-group, with each including the same 262 participants, “eveningness in energy intake” (i.e. EI_evening minus EI_morning) was assessed and related to TDEI.

Results:

“Eveningness in energy intake” increased progressively from age 3/4y to age 17/18y. A median surplus of EI_evening (i.e. EI_evening > EI_morning) was firstly observed at age 11/12y. From age 11/12y onwards, “eveningness in energy intake” was associated with a higher TDEI (all p < 0.04 for ages 11/12y-17/18y). Differences in TDEI were largest at age 17/18y, amounting to an 11% (or 220 kcal) higher TDEI among adolescents in the highest tertile of “eveningness in energy intake” as compared to those in the lowest tertile.

Conclusion:

As children age, energy intake progressively shifts from morning to evening hours. Once evening energy intake exceeds morning energy intake, a higher “eveningness in energy intake” is associated with higher TDEI.