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Eating jetlag is not associated with adiposity in preschool children overall, but among those with high social jetlag, greater morning latency jetlag is associated with higher BMI z-score and waist-to-height ratio.

In a cross-sectional study of 639 Finnish preschoolers (3-6 years), eating jetlag indicators were not associated with adiposity in the full sample. However, among children with high social jetlag (median 62 min), 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).

Last updated: Jul 7, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score34/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Associations between eating jetlag and adiposity in preschool children, and the moderating roles of social jetlag and chronotype.

observational

Maukonen M, Ruokolahti AM, Björkqvist J, Launistola H, Rahkola J, Tillman I, Vepsäläinen H, Ray C, Roos E, Erkkola M, Lehto R · European journal of nutrition (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: cross-sectional (2015-2016)
Intervention: Eating jetlag (variation in eating times between weekdays and weekends) measured via six indicators from 3-day food records
Outcome: Adiposity measured by BMI z-score and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR)
Effect Size: BMI z-score: β=-0.65 (95% CI -1.21 to -0.10) for eating midpoint jetlag; β=0.83 (95% CI 0.19 to 1.46) for morning latency jetlag; WHtR: β=0.035 (95% CI 0.013 to 0.058) for morning latency jetlag
Population: Finnish preschool children aged 3-6 years (48% girls, n=639) from the cross-sectional DAGIS study (2015-2016)

Result:

PubMed: 42371120DOI: 10.1007/s00394-026-04015-6

Mechanism Graph

Weekend-weekday differences in eating timing (eating jetlag) are measured
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Social jetlag (sleep timing variability) is assessed via accelerometry
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Interaction between eating jetlag and social jetlag is analyzed
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Among children with high social jetlag, morning latency jetlag is associated with higher adiposity

Limitations

  • ⚠Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference
  • ⚠Findings require confirmation in longitudinal studies

Frequently Asked Questions

What is eating jetlag?▼

Eating jetlag refers to the variation in eating times between weekdays and weekends, which may disrupt circadian rhythms and increase obesity risk.

Did eating jetlag affect all children equally?▼

No, eating jetlag was not associated with adiposity in the full sample, but associations varied by social jetlag level.

What is social jetlag?▼

Social jetlag is the variation in sleep timing between weekdays and weekends, measured from accelerometer data in this study.

What was the main finding regarding morning latency jetlag?▼

Among children with high social jetlag, greater morning latency jetlag (delay in first eating occasion on weekends) was associated with higher BMI z-score and waist-to-height ratio.

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References

  1. 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
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.