Eating jetlag is associated with adiposity in preschool children only when social jetlag is high, with direction varying by indicator
In a cross-sectional study of 639 Finnish preschoolers (3-6 years), eating jetlag indicators were not associated with BMI z-score or waist-to-height ratio in the full sample. However, among children with high social jetlag (median 62 min), greater eating midpoint jetlag was associated with lower BMI z-score (β: -0.65, 95% CI: -1.21 to -0.10), while greater morning latency jetlag was associated with higher BMI z-score (β: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.19 to 1.46) and higher waist-to-height ratio (β: 0.035, 95% CI: 0.013 to 0.058).
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Eating jetlag is associated with adiposity in preschool children only when social jetlag is high, with direction varying by indicator The current body of evidence comprises 1 study. EvidenceHub rates the overall confidence at 34/100 (low).
The Claim
Eating jetlag is associated with adiposity in preschool children only when social jetlag is high, with direction varying by indicator
This conclusion is most relevant to: Finnish preschool children aged 3-6 years (48% girls, n=639) from the cross-sectional DAGIS study (2015-2016).
What the Research Shows
The conclusion draws on 1 linked study. Highlights from the cited literature:
- ▸Associations between eating jetlag and adiposity in preschool children, and the moderating roles of social jetlag and chronotype. (European journal of nutrition, 2026) —
How It Works
The proposed biological pathway:
- ▸Weekend-weekday differences in eating timing (eating jetlag) are assessed
- ▸Social jetlag (sleep timing variability) moderates the relationship
- ▸High social jetlag amplifies the effect of specific eating jetlag indicators on adiposity
- ▸Direction of association depends on the specific eating jetlag indicator (midpoint vs. morning latency)
Who Might Benefit
Evidence fit by population:
- ▸Finnish preschool children aged 3-6 years (48% girls, n=639) from the cross-sectional DAGIS study (2015-2016)
Recommended Dose
N/A
Limitations & Caveats
Important context when interpreting this evidence:
- ▸Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference
- ▸Findings require confirmation in longitudinal studies
- ▸Potential residual confounding from unmeasured variables (e.g., physical activity, diet quality)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is eating jetlag?▼
Eating jetlag refers to the variation in eating times between weekdays and weekends, measured in this study by differences in first/last eating occasion, eating midpoint, and morning/evening latency.
Does eating jetlag directly cause obesity in preschoolers?▼
No direct association was found in the full sample. However, among children with high social jetlag, certain eating jetlag indicators were associated with either higher or lower adiposity, suggesting a moderating role of sleep timing variability.
What is social jetlag?▼
Social jetlag is the variation in sleep timing between weekdays and weekends, reflecting a mismatch between biological and social clocks. In this study, high social jetlag was defined as a median of 62 minutes (IQR 17).
How was adiposity measured in this study?▼
Adiposity was assessed using BMI z-score (adjusted for age and sex) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), both objective anthropometric measures.
References
- 1.Maukonen M, Ruokolahti AM, Björkqvist J, Launistola H, Rahkola J, Tillman I, Vepsäläinen H, Ray C, Roos E, Erkkola M, Lehto R. “Associations between eating jetlag and adiposity in preschool children, and the moderating roles of social jetlag and chronotype..” European journal of nutrition, 2026. PMID: 42371120 DOI: 10.1007/s00394-026-04015-6