JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Meal timing, the schedule of meal consumption, has been related to several metabolic disorders. However, the effect of meal timing on mental health is scares, particularly in children and adolescents who are in a critical period of physical and psychological development.

Objective:

This research examined the relationship between meal timing and depression in children and adolescents.

Methods:

Children and adolescents from grades one to nine were recruited from 14 districts in Shanghai, China from January 3rd to January 21st. A survey was distributed to the students and their parents to collect the corresponding information. Depression was measured by the Children's Depression Inventory-short form (CDI-S). Meal timing, including breakfast frequency, food intake before sleep, and daily eating window, were assessed by the survey. A total of 6874 participants were included in the analysis. The logistic regression model was used to compute the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals.

Results:

Participants who skip breakfast were associated with a 2.73 time higher risk of depression (OR=2.73, 95%CI: 2.27-3.29, P< 0.001). Depression was 1.28 times higher in participants who ate before bed than participants who never ate before bed (OR= 1.28, 95%CI: 1.08-1.51, P< 0.001). The risk of depression is 1.37 times higher if the eating time window was shorter than 10 hours (OR= 1.37, 95%CI: 1.08-1.73, P=0.009) and 1.23 times higher if the eating time window was longer than 12 hours (OR= 1.23, 95%CI: 1.01-1.50, P=0.042). The lowest risk of depression was observed at 11.5 hours.

Conclusions:

depression was observed at 11.5 hours. Conclusion Breakfast skipping and eating before bed increases the risk of depression. The optimal daily eating window to lower the risk of depression is 11.5 hours in children and adolescents.