Adapting Diet to Chronotype Boosts Weight Loss, Gut Health
'Emerging evidence suggests that aligning dietary patterns with an individual's circadian rhythm, or chronotype, may optimize metabolic processes and gut microbiota (GM) composition and function,' the study authors wrote. 'Given the burden of obesity, a chronotype-adapted diet — aligning meal timing with biological rhythms — could be an innovative approach to weight management.'
The study, presented at NUTRITION 2025 in Orlando, Florida, showed that, overall, fat percentages decreased significantly in the intervention group, while the control group showed no significant change. In addition, a GM analysis revealed greater production of anti-inflammatory short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the intervention group than in the control group.
For clinicians, considering a patient's chronotype during dietary counseling would be 'a practical and feasible starting point,' principal author Monica Dinu, PhD, assistant professor at the University of Florence, Florence, Italy, told Medscape Medical News . 'This can be done easily with a simple [tool] like the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ).'
Aligning Meals With Chronotype
Researchers conducted a 4-month, open-label, randomized controlled trial. A total of 140 adults with overweight/obesity were assigned to either a chronotype-adapted, low-calorie diet with meal timing tailored to their metabolic peaks (morning vs evening chronotype) or a standardized low-calorie eating plan. Chronotype was determined using the MEQ, which offers 'a practical, noninvasive method that can be easily applied in both research and ambulatory settings,' Dinu noted.
The team did not impose strict time windows for meals, she said. 'Rather, the intervention was based on the distribution of energy intake throughout the day. Morning chronotypes consumed approximately 80% of their daily energy intake in the earlier part of the day (including lunch), whereas evening chronotypes consumed the majority in the later part (also including lunch).'
'The dietary intervention adhered to the principles of the Mediterranean diet, and we did not recommend any fasting periods,' she added. 'Our focus was on aligning meal timing with individual chronotype rather than restricting eating windows.'
Both diets had an equivalent daily calorie content, adjusted according to gender and starting weight. The primary outcome was weight change. Secondary outcomes were changes in body composition, biochemical markers, GM composition, and SCFAs.
Which Chronotype Worked Better?
A total of 117 participants (84%; mean age 49 years) completed the study (57 in the intervention group and 60 in the control group). While participants in both intervention groups experienced significant weight loss, reductions were greater in evening chronotypes (−3.7 kg) than in morning chronotypes (−3.2 kg) and control participants (−2.5 kg).
Fat mass percentages decreased significantly in the intervention groups (−2.8% in evening and −1.6% in morning chronotypes), whereas the control group showed no significant change (−0.5%). Both the intervention groups showed reductions in total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, but only morning chronotypes showed a significant decrease in glucose levels (−2.9 mg/dL).
A GM analysis revealed enrichment of SCFA-producing bacteria, such as Clostridiales vadin BB60 , and a reduction in Nitrososphaeraceae in the intervention groups, accompanied by an increased production of anti-inflammatory SCFAs compared with the control group: Isobutyric acid, +0.42% vs −0.25%; 2-methylbutyric acid, +0.43% vs −0.44%).
The team concluded that a chronotype-adapted diet may be more effective than a standard low-calorie diet in improving body composition, metabolic risk profile, and GM in individuals with overweight/obesity — particularly among evening chronotypes.
'Evening chronotypes also experienced greater weight loss and reported reduced hunger despite consuming more calories later in the day, a timing typically discouraged,' Dinu noted.
'For individuals with an evening chronotype, adjusting the distribution of energy intake to better match their biological rhythms may lead to more effective and sustainable weight management,' she added. 'While further research is needed, these findings support the potential of chronotype-based strategies as part of a personalized approach to dietary intervention.'
The research received no specific grant. No conflicts of interest were declared.
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In 2020, the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation was founded by the family of Lorna Breen, MD, an emergency room physician who died by suicide. The group's mission is to eliminate barriers to mental health care and reduce stigma, empowering physicians to seek the care they need. The group has particularly worked to eliminate stigmatizing language around mental health from 34 state licensing organizations' licensing boards and over 50 hospitals' credentialing applications. Today, more healthcare facilities offer dedicated mental health services exclusively for physicians and trainees that aim to reduce other barriers like confidentiality concerns, time constraints, and ease of access. Some operate independently from medical schools or use separate electronic medical record systems to enhance privacy. 'I've never heard of a doctor with a cancerous tumor who didn't go to see an oncologist, but there are still doctors who take their lives without ever having had an assessment,' said Myers. 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In reality, there is evidence that some residents feel pressure to exceed these guidelines without reporting it. Some told Medscape Medical News that work-hour limits and programs to improve physician well-being, while promising, are not always followed. In an emailed statement, the ACGME told Medscape Medical News , 'Requirement compliance is primarily reviewed through routine site visits, faculty and resident surveys and reporting by the program directors and designated institutional official. Complaints can be filed by anyone and can be done so anonymously through the ACGME Office of the Ombudsperson.' Still, Wible says the system profits from residents' overwork and exploits their people-pleasing tendencies. Shabbir also stresses that physician suicide is a community problem. 'As patients and providers, we think that we're on different sides of the exam table, but we're on the same side. We're all hurting together.' Shabbir founded the Early Career Physicians Institute in 2023 to coach physicians through burnout and perfectionism. Wible, who runs a suicide support line and groups for physicians, believes strongly in the power of peer support. One physician who experienced suicidality told Medscape Medical News that 'everything rapidly changed for the better' once he joined a peer support group. 'It felt like a rocket launch. We rose out of the muck together.' Myers says the openness about mental health among the next generation of healers keeps him optimistic. 'I've had many doctors tell me, 'I read someone's story and realized I'm not alone,'' he said. 'They feel less ashamed of seeking help themselves. That's incredibly powerful.' If you or someone you know is in crisis, help is available. Utilize the below services.
