Study: Breakfast timing may affect life expectancy

When people eat their first meal may be linked to how long they live, according to a study based on more than 31,000 adults in the United States.

Researchers followed the participants' dietary habits and health records for about 10 years through the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. They accounted for factors including age, smoking, physical activity, body mass index and chronic illness.

The study found that mortality risk rose as the first meal moved later in the day. Compared with people who ate their first calories between 7 and 8 a.m., those who waited until after 8 a.m. faced a higher risk. The increase ranged from 10% to 19% as breakfast shifted later, reaching 29% among those who did not eat until the afternoon.

The cardiovascular findings were sharper. People who postponed their first meal until the afternoon had a 46% higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, and their average life expectancy was about 2.5 years shorter.

The timing of the final meal also showed an association with mortality. The lowest risk appeared among those who ate around 8 p.m. Risk rose 13% for people who finished eating before 7 p.m. and 27% for those who ate after midnight. Dr. Zhilei Shan of Huazhong University of Science and Technology said late meals could disrupt the biological clock and metabolism. "Meal timing is a critical signal for the body's rhythms. Late breakfast or late dinner can lead to disruptions in glucose and fat metabolism," he said. Experts cautioned that the study used observational data and advised people not to make major dietary changes based solely on the findings without medical advice.

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Meal timing is a critical signal for the body's rhythms. Late breakfast or late dinner can lead to disruptions in glucose and fat metabolism.