Associations between Meal Timing and Frequency and Obesity among Adults in Jeju, Republic of Korea.

Irregular eating patterns, including skipping breakfast and/or late-night eating, have gained frequency and may contribute to rising obesity in South Korea. The prevalence of obesity is high, and breakfast consumption is low in Jeju, yet research on meal timing and frequency is limited. This study examined the association between meal timing/frequency and overweight/obesity among adults in Jeju based on the 2022 Jeju Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey data (n=947). Meal timing and frequency were assessed via a 1-d 24-h dietary recall, while late-night eating behaviors were evaluated employing a separate questionnaire. Breakfast consumers were divided into tertiles based on the proportion of total energy intake from breakfast. Compared with breakfast skippers, participants in the highest tertile of the proportion of energy from breakfast had significantly lower odds of overweight/obesity after adjusting for age, sex, total energy intake, and lifestyle and socioeconomic factors (odds ratio, 0.47; 95% confidence interval, 0.24－0.92; P for trend=0.0140). Breakfast skippers consumed more energy at lunch and dinner than breakfast consumers (P<0.0001). Compared with breakfast skippers, breakfast consumers had a lower prevalence of vitamin and mineral intakes below the estimated average requirement and had a higher adherence to the acceptable macronutrient distribution range for fat (P<0.05). Overall, breakfast consumption was positively associated with nutrient adequacy and adherence to appropriate fat intake levels. These findings suggest that breakfast consumption may help maintain healthy nutritional status and is inversely associated with overweight/obesity prevalence among adults in Jeju.