A recent French study suggests that men who experience significant differences in meal times between weekdays and weekends—known as "food-related jet lag"—may be at a higher risk for cardiovascular and coronary diseases. The research, published in the journal Communications Medicine on September 1, 2026, found that each additional hour of this mismatch in eating schedules was linked to a 14% increased risk of cardiovascular disease and a 21% increased risk of coronary disease. The study was conducted by researchers from Sorbonne Paris Nord University and Inserm, among other institutions. "Food-related jet lag" is a term used to describe the shift in meal times that some people experience between workdays and days off. For example, someone might eat at 7:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 8:00 p.m. during the week, but these times could shift to 10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m., and 10:00 p.m. on the weekend. This kind of irregular eating pattern is similar to the way jet lag affects the body when traveling across time zones, but instead of affecting sleep, it affects the timing of meals. The increased health risks identified in the study were calculated after accounting for other factors such as age, smoking, physical activity, sleep duration, and the nutritional quality of the food consumed. Researchers believe the issue lies in the disruption of the body's internal rhythms, which regulate functions in organs like the liver, pancreas, and fat tissues. These organs have their own "clocks" that align with meal times, and sudden changes in eating schedules can confuse these systems. This confusion can lead to long-term problems with blood sugar, blood pressure, and fat metabolism, all of which can strain the heart and blood vessels. Interestingly, the study found no significant link between food-related jet lag and cardiovascular risk in women. Scientists suggest this might be due to differences in biology, hormones, or how men and women are affected by work schedules. However, the researchers emphasized that their findings are based on observational data, and more studies are needed to fully understand the relationship and its implications for public health.