Association between chrononutrition behaviours, anthropometric measurements, and body composition in adults with prediabetes.

Abstract Evidence showed delayed eating timing is associated with higher risk of overweight and/or obesity in the general population. However, its associations with anthropometric measurements and body composition in individuals with prediabetes, remains ambiguous. This study investigated the association between chrononutrition behaviours, anthropometric measurements, and body composition in adults with prediabetes. This prospective longitudinal study enrolled 120 participants aged 54±15 years, who received standard care at healthcare clinics. Socio-demographic data were collected via an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements, body composition metrics and chrononutrition behaviours (assessed with the Malay-translated Chrononutrition Profile Questionnaire), were assessed at baseline and six months. Multiple linear regression analyses with adjustment for confounders were conducted. Participants had their first meal at 8.27am(±1.38hours) and their last meal at 7.35pm(±1.44 hours), with an average gap of 3.3 hours (±1.9hours) between the last meal and bedtime. A later last meal was associated with higher body weight(β: 0.68kg, 95%CI: 0.31,1.04) and larger waist circumference (β:1.38cm, 95%CI: 0.57,2.19). Each hour deviation from eating beyond the 7.00am to 7.00pm time window corresponded to an increase in body weight of 1.41kg(95%CI: 0.05,2.77). Increasing frequency of nighttime snacking was associated with higher BMI (β: 1.61kg/m 2 , 95%CI: 0.43,2.79). Delaying last meal timing (β:0.44%, 95%CI: 0.14,0.74) and deviating from solar time were associated with higher body fat percentage(β:1.36%,95%CI:0.30,2.42) while increasing frequency of breakfast skipping was associated with lower muscle mass (β: -0.31kg,95% CI:-0.56, 0.07 These findings highlight the importance of chrononutrition behaviours in influencing anthropometric and body composition outcomes, supporting targeted interventions on meal timing in prediabetes management.