Meal Timing and Longevity: New Study Links Later Breakfast to Increased Mortality Risk in Older Adults
A recent study published in Communications Medicine suggests a potential link between the timing of meals, particularly breakfast, and longevity in older adults. Researchers found that eating breakfast later in the day was associated with a higher risk of mortality, raising important questions about the impact of meal timing on overall health in later life. The study analyzed data from nearly 3,000 adults in the United Kingdom.
The Study's Findings
The longitudinal study, conducted by an international team of researchers, collected data from 2,945 adults living in Newcastle and Manchester between 1983 and 2017. Participants, aged 42 to 94 at enrollment, provided information on their health, lifestyle, and eating habits through questionnaires. The research revealed that as participants aged, they tended to eat breakfast and dinner later in the day, resulting in a narrower daily eating window. These later eating times were linked to poorer physical and mental health.
Breakfast Timing and Mortality Risk
The study found a significant association between eating breakfast later and an increased risk of all-cause mortality. Specifically, for each hour later that breakfast was consumed, the chance of dying during the study period increased by 8-11 percent. Hassan Dashti, a nutrition scientist from Harvard Medical School and the study's lead author, noted that changes in meal timing, especially breakfast, could serve as a marker of overall health status in older adults.
Understanding the Underlying Factors
The researchers emphasize that the study does not prove causation; eating breakfast later does not necessarily cause an earlier death. Instead, they suggest the relationship is likely driven in the opposite direction. Poorer health, leading to a lack of sleep or difficulty with daily tasks, may result in delayed breakfast times. Conditions such as depression, fatigue, and poor oral health can make it challenging for older adults to eat earlier. As Dashti explained, the aim of the study was "to examine decades of data on meal timing in older adults and its relationship with long-term health.”
Expert Perspectives
Monique Richard, a registered dietitian nutritionist, commented that the study's findings align with her clinical observations. She noted that later breakfast timing is common in geriatrics, especially among those with depression, fatigue, oral health issues, or mobility challenges. She also said "Later breakfast timing in older adults is a frequent observation in geriatrics, especially those with current depression, fatigue, oral health complaints, and who may be more isolated or have mobility challenges."
Implications for Healthy Aging
The findings highlight the importance of further research into the impact of meal timing on health and longevity. Dashti suggests that shifts in mealtime routines could serve as an early warning sign for underlying health problems. Encouraging consistent meal schedules in older adults could become part of broader strategies to promote healthy aging. He states, "Patients and clinicians can possibly use shifts in mealtime routines as an early warning sign to look into underlying physical and mental health issues". Future research will focus on whether adjusting meal timing can directly improve health and longevity.
