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Late eating and shortened fasting are associated with higher ultra-processed food intake across all age groups: a population-based study

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Abstract

Purpose

Global dietary patterns are increasingly driven by ultra-processed foods–cheap, highly palatable, and ready-to-eat options. Exploring time-related eating patterns and its association with ultra-processed foods could help in intervention efforts, but knowledge on this topic is still limited. This study assessed the association of time-related eating patterns with unprocessed/minimally processed and ultra-processed food consumption across different life stages.

Methods

Two 24-hour food recalls from a nationally representative sample in Brazil (Brazilian Household Budget Survey, POF, 2017–2018; n = 46,164) were used to estimate tertiles of first and last intake times, eating midpoint, caloric midpoint time, and night fasting (independent variables). All consumed foods were classified according to the Nova classification system, and the outcomes of interest were consumption of unprocessed/minimally processed and ultra-processed foods. Multiple linear regression models were performed for all individuals and stratified for each age group: adolescents (10–19 years, n = 8,469), adults (20–59 years, n = 29,332), and older individuals (≥ 60 years, n = 8,322).

Results

The later tertile of first food intake time, last food intake time, caloric midpoint, and eating midpoint were positively associated with consumption of ultra-processed foods (β = 3.69, 95%CI = 3.04, 4.34; β = 1.89, 95%CI = 1.32, 2.47; β = 5.20, 95%CI = 4.60, 5.81; β = 3.10, 95%CI = 2.49, 3.71, respectively) and negatively associated with consumption of unprocessed or minimally processed foods (β=-2.79, 95%CI=-3.37; -2.22; β=-1.65, 95%CI=-2.24, -1.05; β=-3.94, 95%CI=-4.44, -3.44; β=- 2.35, 95%CI=-2.93, -1.78, respectively) compared to the first “earlier” tertile (reference). An inverse association was found for night fasting (β=-1.74, 95%CI=-2.28, -1.22 and β = 1.52, 95%CI = 0.98, 2.06 for ultra-processed and unprocessed/minimally processed foods, respectively). These associations were consistent across all age groups.

Conclusion

Chrononutrition patterns characterized by late intake timing and shortened overnight fasting were associated with higher consumption of ultra-processed foods and lower intake of unprocessed/minimally processed foods across all age groups.

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Data availability

The datasets analyzed in the current study are freely available on the IBGE website (https://www.ibge.gov.br/estatisticas/sociais/saude/24786-pesquisa-de-orcamentos-familiares-2.html).

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) and the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq; CAC and CRCM are CNPq fellows; CAC: #401761/2022-3 and 312309/2020-1; CRCM: #307875/2022-9) for financial support and the scholarship, and the University of Surrey for the IAS Fellowship to CAC in 2022.

Funding

This work was supported by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP), the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and the Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS) of the University of Surrey. CAC and CRCM are CNPq fellows - CAC: #401761/2022-3 and 312309/2020-1; CRCM: #311278/2019; CAC was awarded the IAS Fellowship by the University of Surrey in 2022.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Av. Pará, 1720, Bloco 2U, Sala 20. Campus Umuarama, Uberlândia, MG, 38405-320, Brazil

    Cibele A. Crispim, Catarina M. Azeredo & Ana E.M. Rinaldi

  2. Chronobiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK

    Cibele A. Crispim & Debra J. Skene

  3. School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK

    Alexessander Couto Alves

  4. Department of Health, Life Cycles and Society, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Claudia R.C. Moreno

  5. Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden

    Claudia R.C. Moreno

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  1. Cibele A. Crispim
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  2. Catarina M. Azeredo
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  3. Ana E.M. Rinaldi
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  4. Alexessander Couto Alves
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  5. Debra J. Skene
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  6. Claudia R.C. Moreno
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Contributions

CAC, CRCM and DJS participated in the planning, interpretation of results and writing of the manuscript. CAC performed the statistical analysis. CMA and AEMR participated in the interpretation of results, support on the statistical analysis and writing of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Cibele A. Crispim.

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Crispim, C.A., Azeredo, C.M., Rinaldi, A.E. et al. Late eating and shortened fasting are associated with higher ultra-processed food intake across all age groups: a population-based study. Eur J Nutr 64, 134 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-025-03633-w

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