Background: Meal timing may influence food choices, and affect neurobiology and psychological states. However, the relation between timing of food intake and mental health is not well known.
Aim: To determine if eating patterns that reflect timing of daily eating occasions, are associated with mood disorders among Australian adults.
Methods: During 2004-06 (aged 26-36 years) and 2009-11 (follow-up, aged 31-41 years), 906 participants reported 24-hour meal, snack, and beverage intake. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview measured lifetime mood disorder (depression or dysthymia). Eating patterns were determined using principal components analysis on proportions of participant’s daily intake over seven time intervals: 6-9am, 9am-12pm, 12-3pm, 3-6pm, 6-9pm, 9-11pm, and 11pm-6am. Log binomial regression estimated prevalence ratios (PR). Covariates included sex, age, marital status, parental status, occupation, BMI, leisure-time physical activity, and smoking.
Results: Three eating patterns were derived: Traditional (highest proportions reflect breakfast, lunch and dinner), Afternoon (smaller proportions during morning and evening, highest in afternoon), and Late (low proportions in the morning, higher during the evening). After adjustment, participants with scores in the highest third of the Late pattern at both baseline and follow-up had a higher prevalence of lifetime mood disorder compared to those who scored in the lowest third at both time-points (PR: 1.7, 95% confidence interval: 1.1, 2.7). Lifetime mood disorder was not significantly associated (p<0.005) with the other patterns.
Conclusion: The timing of daily eating occasions, particularly skipped or delayed breakfast and proportionally higher intake later in the day, requires further examination in relation to mood disorders.