Weight status of working adults: The effects of eating misalignment, chronotype, and eating jetlag during mandatory confinement

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to examine the association between chronotype, eating jetlag, and eating misalignment with weight status among Malaysian adults during the COVID-19 restriction. This online cross-sectional study included 175 working adults recruited from March to July 2020. The chronotype was assessed using Morningness Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) while eating jetlag and mealtime variability were measured using Chrononutrition Profile Questionnaire (CPQ). Multiple linear regression demonstrated that lower breakfast frequency (β = -0.258, p = .002) and longer eating duration (β = 0.393, p < .001) were associated with later first eating events on workfree days. Both intermediate (β = 0.543, p < .001) and evening chronotypes (β = 0.523, p = .001) tend to eat their first meals later compared to morning person. Similar patterns were observed for overall eating jetlaggers in which lower breakfast frequency (β = -0.022, p = .011), longer eating duration (β = 0.293, p < .001), intermediate chronotype (β = 0.512, p < .001), and evening chronotype (β = 0.495, p = .003) were associated with eating later meals on workfree days. Additionally, higher BMI was also associated with eating later meals on workfree days (β = 0.181, p = .025). During movement restriction, discrepancies of mealtimes during work and workfree days offer new insight into modern eating habits that can influence weight status and general eating habits such as breakfast skipping and total daily eating duration. Population meal timing variability was affected during movement restrictions, and it was closely related to weight status.

KEYWORDS:

• Weight status
• working adults
• eating jetlag
• chronotype
• eating misalignment
• chrononutrition

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to all participants. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Ethical approval

The study was approved by the UCSI University Research and Ethics Committee (IEC-2020-FAS-015). Written consent is obtained from the pregnant women to participate in the study.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

The authors reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.