Men whose eating schedules shift significantly between weekdays and weekends face a substantially higher risk of developing heart disease, according to a large-scale study published in the journal Communications Medicine. Researchers following more than 104,000 adults found that this irregular meal timing—termed “eating jetlag”—increases cardiovascular and coronary heart disease risks for men by up to 68 percent, independent of sleep habits or overall diet quality.
How Weekend Eating Shifts Threaten Men’s Heart Health
For every extra hour of mismatch between weekday and weekend mealtimes, men faced a 14 percent higher risk of cardiovascular disease overall and a 21 percent higher risk of coronary heart disease specifically, according to data from the long-running French health project NutriNet-Santé. The study tracked 104,806 adult participants, roughly 79 percent of whom were women, over a median follow-up of just over eight years.
Researchers categorized participants based on how much their eating midpoint drifted between workdays and non-working days. Men in the “Advance” group, who ate more than an hour earlier on weekends, experienced a 44 percent higher risk of cardiovascular disease and a 68 percent higher risk of coronary heart disease compared to men with steady schedules. Meanwhile, men in the “Delay” group, who ate later on weekends, faced a 36 percent higher risk of coronary heart disease. Stroke risk showed no clear connection to eating jetlag, and women showed no meaningful link regardless of schedule shifts.
Did You Know?
Most participants—about 71 percent—fell into the “Maintenance” category, meaning their daily eating windows barely changed across the week. Only 5 percent landed in the Advance group, while 24 percent made up the Delay group.
Why Biological Sex Shapes Responses to Irregular Mealtimes
Scientists behind the research floated several hypotheses regarding why eating jetlag affects men while showing no link in women. According to study authors, men generally exhibit higher baseline rates of heart disease, which makes statistical detection easier in male cohorts. Biological differences in how male and female bodies process metabolic signals and internal clock rhythms also likely play a role.
Previous laboratory work in mice demonstrated that restricted eating schedules produced weight benefits exclusively in males, pointing toward inherent physiological dimorphism.
Accounting for Sleep Habits and Diet Quality
The observed connection between irregular eating and heart trouble persisted even after researchers adjusted for confounding variables like bedtime, sleep duration, and social jetlag patterns. Diet quality was also factored into the statistical models. This confirmed that the elevated risk was not simply a byproduct of consuming unhealthier foods on Saturdays and Sundays.
Data collection relied on detailed food diaries where volunteers logged exact consumption times across roughly six recorded days on average. Researchers calculated the midpoint between each person’s first and last bite. While the study offers clear observational insights, authors note that it cannot definitively prove that shifting mealtimes directly causes heart disease.
Pro Tip:
Maintaining a consistent eating schedule across all seven days of the week may offer a simple, low-cost habit to support cardiovascular health alongside traditional focus areas like sleep hygiene and balanced nutrition.
Frequently Asked Questions About Eating Jetlag
What is eating jetlag?
Eating jetlag refers to the mismatch between a person’s meal timing on workdays versus weekends or days off, mimicking the circadian disruption of social jetlag.
Does eating jetlag affect women?
In this observational study of over 104,000 adults, women showed no meaningful link between shifting weekend mealtimes and heart disease risk.
Can eating later on weekends cause heart problems?
Yes. Men in the study who delayed their eating windows on weekends faced a 36 percent higher risk of coronary heart disease.
Does sleep quality explain the risk?
No. The connection between irregular mealtimes and heart disease remained even after researchers controlled for sleep habits and diet quality.
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