Independent effects of the human circadian system and sleep/eating cycles on caloric intake in adolescents vary by weight status.

ABSTRACT: Late-day eating is linked to increased obesity risk; however, whether the endogenous circadian system independently influences caloric intake and if this control differs among individuals based on weight status is unknown. Here, we investigated in adolescents the independent roles of the endogenous circadian system and of the behavioral sleep/wake cycle (sleep/wake, fasting/eating, rest/activity, dark/dim light, social interaction, posture, etc.) on self-selected caloric intake using a Forced Desynchrony protocol. Fifty-one male and female adolescents across three weight status categories (24 with healthy weight, 13 with overweight, and 14 with obesity) completed the protocol where participants lived on seven 28-h sleep/wake cycles in dim light during wake and complete darkness during slee

SUBMITTER: Barker DH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11874483 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature