Are you one of those people who eat at irregular times and often skip a meal? A recent study examined the impact of an irregular eating rhythm on health. The results are terrifying.
US study: Negative consequences of irregular mealtimes
A long working day forces many people to take meals irregularly and as quickly as possible or to skip them altogether. US researchers were able to find out in a study that irregular food intake has a negative effect on the heart and circulatory system. According to the scientists, a widespread disease in particular is favored.
The team led by Nour Makarem from Columbia University came to the conclusion that evening feasting in particular increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, reports. “Here we show that it’s not just about the timing of food intake – it’s also about the daily regularity and the regularity of the weekend and weekday food intake,” Makarem is quoted as saying in a statement from the American Heart Association (AHA). .
The US researchers had examined the eating habits of 116 women aged 20 to 64 years. The study participants kept an electronic food diary for one week in which they recorded what and when they ate. A year later, 99 of the subjects repeated the process. Among other things, the researchers evaluated when the first and last meal took place, what percentage of the daily calorie intake was consumed after 8 p.m., how long the meals lasted, and compared this data with the blood pressure values and the body mass index (BMI ) the participant.
Elevated blood pressure due to late meals – BMI also increases
It was found that sumptuous meals in the evening had a negative impact on blood pressure: According to the portal, for every ten percent increase in calories consumed after 5 p.m., systolic blood pressure increased by almost three points and diastolic blood pressure also rose by more than two points. The long-term blood sugar level HbA1c also rose. The study participants who consumed the majority of their daily calories after 8 p.m. also had an increased risk of storing abdominal fat and their BMI was also more likely to increase in this case. Also striking: the greater the difference in time between meals taken during the week and those taken at the weekend, the more negative the impact on blood pressure and BMI – two factors that have a significant impact on heart health, according to the online portal.
