284. Timing of meals plays a role in depression and anxiety
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
Roughly 20 percent of Americans work night shifts, forcing them to eat meals during the day and at night. A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that eating at these late hours increases the risk of depression and anxiety. Researchers took 12 men and seven women and created a simulated shift-work schedule, altering their normal circadian rhythms. Half of them then ate meals only during the day, while the other half ate both during the day and night. Those who ate during the night, like most night-shift workers do, had a 26 percent increase in depression levels and 16 percent higher levels of anxiety.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
