Restricting night-time eating reduces daily energy intake in healthy young men: a short-term cross-over study

Few experimental data are available to support the notion that reducing night-time eating changes total daily energy intake (EI) or body weight in healthy adults. The present study primarily examined the short-term effect of night eating restriction (NER) on daily EI in healthy young men. It secondarily examined body weight and moods associated with NER. Using a cross-over design, twenty-nine men (20.9 (SD 2.5) years; 24.4 (SD 2.5) kg/m(2)) initiated a 2-week NER intervention (elimination of EI from 19.00 to 06.00 hours) and a 2-week control condition, counterbalanced and separated by a 1-week washout period. EI and macronutrient intake were assessed using computerised, multiple-pass 24 h food recalls, body weight via a digital scale and mood using the Profile of Mood States survey. Of the twenty-nine participants, twenty-seven (93 %) completed all aspects of the study. During the NER condition, the participants consumed less total energy per d than during the control condition (10 125 v. 11146 kJ/d; F = 6.41; P = 0.018). During the NER condition, no energy was reported consumed between 19.00 and 06.00 hours; however, during the control condition, the energy intake of participants was 2920 (SD 1347) kJ/d between 19.00 and 06.00 hours. There was a significant difference in weight change between the NER (-0.4 (SD 1.1) kg) and control (+6 (SD 0.9) kg) conditions (F = 22.68; P < 0.001). Differences in total mood score or mood subscales between the NER and control conditions were not apparent (p > 0.05). These findings provide support for NER decreasing short-term EI in healthy young men.