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Greater morning latency jetlag is associated with higher BMI z-score and waist-to-height ratio in preschool children with high social jetlag

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, IQR 17), 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 (morning latency jetlag) are assessed
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High social jetlag indicates greater sleep timing variability
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Interaction between eating jetlag and social jetlag may disrupt circadian alignment
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Result: Higher morning latency jetlag associated with increased adiposity in children with high social jetlag

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.

What is social jetlag?▼

Social jetlag is the variation in sleep timing between weekdays and weekends, reflecting a mismatch between biological and social clocks.

Was eating jetlag associated with adiposity in all children?▼

No, no associations were found in the full sample; the effect was only observed in children with high social jetlag.

What is morning latency jetlag?▼

Morning latency jetlag is the difference in the timing of the first eating occasion between weekdays and weekends.

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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.