When You Eat Breakfast May Matter More Than You Think, Study Finds
A new study found surprising links between meal timing and longevity. But one habit stood out in ways researchers didn’t expect.
Recent research has revealed that when an individual eats their first and last meals of the day may have a greater impact on mortality risk and life expectancy than previously thought. A study, published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, analyzed data from over 31,000 U.S. adults aged 40 and older.
The findings showed that the timing of the first meal played a significant role in mortality risk. Compared to those who ate breakfast between 7 and 8 a.m., individuals who delayed their first meal to after noon faced a 29% higher risk of death from any cause and a 43% higher risk of cardiovascular disease-related death. The effect was not limited to those who skipped breakfast entirely; even those whose first meal fell between 10 a.m. and noon experienced a 19% increase in all-cause mortality and a 59% increase in stroke-related deaths compared to those who ate between 7 and 8 a.m.
However, the timing of the last meal also appeared to be important. The study found that people who consumed their final meal between 7 and 8 p.m. had the lowest mortality risk. Conversely, those who ate before 7 p.m. had a 13% higher risk of death from any cause, and those who ate after midnight faced a 27% higher risk of death from any cause and a 51% higher risk of heart disease-related death.
These findings suggest that meal timing should be considered alongside nutrition quality when discussing healthy aging and long-term disease risk. While the study did not prove a direct causative relationship, it highlights the importance of considering when an individual eats in relation to the body's natural daily rhythms.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
