The timing of meals, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner, directly influences a person's health status. Delaying the first meal in the morning increases the probability of reduced life expectancy, and a late dinner can also raise the risk of death.
A study conducted among over 31 thousand people in the USA established a link between the time of the first and last meal and the risk of death, as well as life expectancy. This study was published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
The study involved 31,044 Americans aged 40 and older. Scientists analyzed data on these individuals' eating times from 1999 to 2018 and compared it with mortality records. During approximately 8.6 years of observation, 7,129 deaths were recorded.
According to the study, the optimal time for consuming the first caloric meal is between 7 and 8 AM. In comparison, those who ate their first meal between 8 and 10 AM had a 10% higher risk of death from any cause. This risk increased to 19% for those who ate between 10 AM and 12 PM.
Participants who ate their first meal after noon had a 29% increased risk of death. The statistics showed that the later breakfast was eaten, the higher the risk of death became. The study also found that the average life expectancy for people who ate their first meal after noon at age 50 was 2.46 years lower, whereas eating between 7 and 8 AM kept it normal.
It was found that people who eat late or after midnight face a 27% increased risk of death, and their life expectancy is 2.35 years shorter. However, it is worth noting that even those who had dinner before 7 PM had a 13% increased risk of death. The lowest risk was recorded among those who had their last meal around 8 PM, suggesting a recommendation to eat dinner around this time.
It is important to understand that this study only establishes a correlation and does not prove that a late breakfast or dinner directly shortens life. In addition to meal timing, factors such as age, smoking, physical exercise, diet, weight, income, and chronic diseases can influence the risk of death. Even if a person eats at the right time, negative factors like smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and an unhealthy lifestyle can negate the benefits of maintaining a regular eating schedule.