fbpx Skip to content

Evening Chronotype and Diet

Being a night person could upend your diet.

Woman staying up late in front of her computer

Whether we stumble into bed as the sun goes up or rise with the roosters, most of us can identify with a specific sleep type, or chronotype. Your chronotype is your circadian typology, and a connection exists between chronotype and diet. If you fall into the evening category with a clear preference for conducting activities in the evening and awakening well after sunrise, following that preference may not bode well for your diet.

Investigators from the Department of Medicine at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York looked at survey data from 432 women enrolled in the American Heart Association Go Red for Women Strategically Focused Research Network. The researchers found that women identified as evening chronotypes typically consumed a poorer-quality diet with lower amounts of plant proteins, fiber, fruits and vegetables than morning/intermediate chronotypes.

Night owls also consumed diets with a higher energy density, which along with eating fewer nutritious foods can raise the risk for conditions like obesity and heart disease. So if you are working with clients who regularly burn the midnight oil, it’s important to encourage them to implement strategies for healthier eating habits.

See also: Sleep Tight on a Healthy Diet


Matthew Kadey, MS, RD

Matthew Kadey, MS, RD, is a James Beard Award–winning food journalist, dietitian and author of the cookbook Rocket Fuel: Power-Packed Food for Sport + Adventure (VeloPress 2016). He has written for dozens of magazines, including Runner’s World, Men’s Health, Shape, Men’s Fitness and Muscle and Fitness.

Related Articles