A study published in the *European Journal of Clinical Nutrition* covered more than 31,000 adults aged 40 and older. Researchers examined when participants had their first and last meals during the day and compared this data with mortality rates. A notable pattern emerged: the later a person started eating, the higher the risk. The researchers used breakfast from 7:00 to 8:00 AM as a reference point. For those who had their first meal between 8:00 and 10:00 AM, the risk of premature death from any cause was about 10% higher. If the first meal occurred between 10:00 AM and noon, the risk increased by 19%. The most significant difference was observed among those who delayed their first meal until the afternoon. Having breakfast after 12:00 PM was associated with a 29% increase in the risk of premature death compared to breakfast between 7:00 and 8:00 AM. An even more pronounced connection was found with cardiovascular diseases. For those who started eating after noon, the risk of death from cardiovascular causes, including heart attack and stroke, was 46% higher than for people who had breakfast between 7:00 and 8:00 AM. Researchers also found that among participants over 50, a later first meal was associated with an average of nearly 2.5 years shorter lifespan. At the same time, the scientists emphasize that the study's results show a correlation, not proof that late breakfast directly causes earlier death. For example, people with existing health problems may wake up and have breakfast later, so meal timing may not be a cause but rather a sign of underlying issues. Previous studies have also linked later breakfasts in adulthood with depression, fatigue, and certain health problems. Additionally, regularly shifting meal times to later in the day may affect circadian biological rhythms, blood sugar levels, and stress hormones. One of the study's authors, Zhijie Shan, urges not to interpret the findings as evidence of a direct causal relationship. According to him, late meal times should be viewed as a potential risk marker and possibly a lifestyle factor that individuals can change. Thus, the study does not mean that having breakfast after a certain hour in itself shortens life. However, after 40, regularly delaying the first meal until noon or later may warrant closer attention to one’s eating habits and overall health.
