Influence of Eating Schedule on the Postprandial Response: Gender Differences

Abstract

Ingestion of a meal induces conscious sensations depending of the characteristics of the meal and the predisposition of the eater. We hypothesized that the eating schedule plays a conditioning role, specifically, that an extemporaneous meal is less rewarding than when eaten at the habitual schedule. We conducted a randomized parallel trial in 10 women and 10 men comparing the responses to a consistent savoury lunch-type meal (stewed beans) eaten at the habitual afternoon schedule or at an unconventional time in the morning. Schedule and gender differences were analyzed by repeated measures analysis of covariance. In women, the sensory experience induced by the probe meal, particularly postprandial satisfaction, was weaker when eaten at an unconventional time for breakfast. Men were resilient to the schedule effect and experienced the same sensations regardless of the timing of ingestion; the effect of the eating schedule was significantly more pronounced in women for fullness (F(1,55) = 14.9; p < 0.001), digestive well-being (F(1,36.8) = 22.3; p < 0.001), mood (F(1,12.4) = 13.8; p < 0.001), and anxiety (F(1,11.9) = 10.9; p = 0.001). No differences in the physiological responses induced by the afternoon and morning meals were detected either in women or men. Our data indicate that women are more susceptible to changes in meal schedule than men.

Keywords: eating habits; gender differences; hedonic response; homeostatic responses; meal ingestion; meal schedule; postprandial sensations.

Figure 1

The effect of ingestion time on the postprandial experience. (A) Homeostatic sensations. (B) Hedonic sensations. Perceptions measured on 10-cm scales before (−10 to 0 minutes) and after (0 to 60 minutes) the meal; ingestion time 12 min. In women, the sensory experience induced by the probe meal, particularly postprandial satisfaction, was weaker when eaten at an unconventional time for breakfast. The effect of meal schedule was more pronounced in women than men. The main gender effect by repeated measures ANCOVA is shown. Dependent variable: postprandial scores. Covariate: pre-meal scores.

Figure 1

The effect of ingestion time on the postprandial experience. (A) Homeostatic sensations. (B) Hedonic sensations. Perceptions measured on 10-cm scales before (−10 to 0 minutes) and after (0 to 60 minutes) the meal; ingestion time 12 min. In women, the sensory experience induced by the probe meal, particularly postprandial satisfaction, was weaker when eaten at an unconventional time for breakfast. The effect of meal schedule was more pronounced in women than men. The main gender effect by repeated measures ANCOVA is shown. Dependent variable: postprandial scores. Covariate: pre-meal scores.

Figure 2

The effect of ingestion time on meal wanting and liking. Perceptions measured on 10-cm scales. By changing the ingestion schedule from the afternoon to the morning, meal liking decreased in women but not in men, and this gender difference was statistically significant (p = 0.008); similarly, the desire to eat also decreased in women but not in men, although the difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.109).