Traditional dietary guidelines have emphasized what and how much we eat, often overlooking the impact of when we eat. However, growing evidence suggests that food timing plays a critical role in shaping eating behaviors, metabolic health, and body weight. This presentation will examine emerging findings in the field of chrononutrition, which studies how the timing of food intake interacts with circadian rhythms to influence health outcomes. The session will explore current evidence on the associations between food timing and various health outcomes, including appetite regulation, metabolic markers, and body composition. It will also assess the effects of food timing on body weight management in individuals engaged in dietary interventions. A focus will be on the physiological and behavioral mechanisms underlying these associations, such as circadian alignment, hormonal regulation, and energy balance. Through this lens, the talk will also evaluate the potential of food timing as a novel personal strategy to support more targeted interventions to improve appetite control, metabolic health and weight management. Drawing on data from both observational and interventional studies, this presentation will provide practical insights on how principles of chrononutrition can be integrated into dietary guidelines and clinical practice to promote long-term health and disease prevention.
Vicky Drapeau holds a bachelor's degree in nutrition and a Ph.D. in kinesiology from Université Laval. She is a nutritionist and a full professor in the Department of Kinesiology at the Faculty of Medicine and a researcher at the IUCPQ (Obesity and Metabolism axis), as well as a member of the NUTRISS, INAF, and CRIFPE research centers. She also serves as co-chair of the Nautilus Plus Research Chair in Teaching and Leadership on the Promotion of Healthy Lifestyle Habits at Université Laval. As the scientific director of the Sustainable Health Initiative and Director of the Graduate Microprogram in Healthy Lifestyle Habits at Université Laval, Dr. Drapeau plays a leading role in advancing education and research in these fields. Her research, published in over 150 scientific articles, focuses on eating behaviors, appetite regulation, and intervention strategies aimed at improving metabolic health and effective weight management. With over 30 years of experience as a practicing nutritionist at the Équilibre-Santé Clinic and the PEPS Clinic, where she currently leads the nutrition team, Dr. Drapeau brings a wealth of clinical expertise to her academic work. Her guiding principle, “Better understanding to better intervene,” reflects her commitment to advancing both research and practice in the field of nutrition and health.