Abstract
PURPOSE: Chrononutrition, encompassing timing, frequency, and regularity of dietary intake, may affect metabolic health and chronic illness risk, making early dietary patterns crucial. This study aimed to explore potential determinants of chrononutrition among preschoolers. METHODS: The cross-sectional DAGIS study included 677 Finnish preschoolers aged 3-6. Data were collected through 3-day food records and 7-day actigraphy-measured sleep. ANCOVA and linear regression were used to analyze associations between potential determinants-chronotype, SES, parental work hours, age, and sex-and chrononutrition variables (timing of the first and last EOs, energy and eating midpoints, duration of the fasting window, morning and evening latency, and the number of EOs). RESULTS: A later chronotype was associated with later timing for first and last EOs, eating and energy midpoints (p < 0.001), shorter morning (p = 0.002), and longer evening latency (p < 0.001). Children whose fathers worked regular hours had a longer fasting window compared to children whose fathers did not work (p = 0.03), and a longer morning latency compared to children whose fathers did shift work (p = 0.04). High SES was associated with later energy midpoint (p = 0.004). On weekdays children whose mothers worked regular hours had their first EO earlier compared to children whose mothers worked shifts (p = 0.006) and a shorter fasting window (p = 0.009). During weekend days boys had a longer morning latency compared to girls (p < 0.001), and children with morning (p = 0.006) and intermediate (p = 0.02) chronotypes had more EOs compared to evening chronotypes. CONCLUSION: Chronotype was a key determinant of the timing of food intake in Finnish preschool-aged children, while sociodemographic factors had a less pronounced association.