Barcelona Institute study finds early breakfast and longer night fast aid weight control

Researchers from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health analysed data from more than 7,000 participants and identified two simple eating habits linked to a lower body‑mass index (BMI). Participants who ate their first meal early in the day consistently had lower BMIs, while a longer overnight fasting period – the time between dinner and breakfast – was also associated with reduced weight.

The study cautions against skipping breakfast; men who delayed their first meal until after 2 p.m. showed no weight benefit and tended toward other unhealthy behaviours such as smoking and reduced physical activity. The authors suggest that aligning meals with the body’s internal clock, by eating earlier and allowing a longer nightly fast, supports more efficient daytime calorie burning.