Researchers found that adolescents in the obese weight range ate more food later in the day than their peers of healthy weight, and that their eating behaviors were strongly influenced by their internal body clock.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — The causes of obesity are complex and influenced by many factors. While research has highlighted connections between sleep, eating patterns and weight gain, scientists remain uncertain of the role of the circadian system — the biological clock — in shaping eating patterns.

But a new study from researchers at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Mass General Brigham reveals a distinct relationship between circadian rhythms, weight and eating habits in adolescents, a vulnerable age group whose eating patterns influence their lifelong health. The study found that adolescents whose weight was classified as overweight or obese consumed more calories later in the day compared to participants with healthy weights.

The results demonstrate that circadian rhythms play an important role in explaining later caloric intake in individuals at risk for obesity, said lead investigator Mary Carskadon, a professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown’s medical school.

“The critical nature of adolescent development to set the stage for a lifetime of health highlights the need to understand the roles played by sleep/wake and circadian timing processes for eating behavior,” said Carskadon, who also directs the Bradley Hospital Sleep Research Laboratory. “The knowledge gained here opens a door to potential interventions that can enhance teen health moving forward.”

The results were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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