From the way we look to the way we walk, many things tend to change as we age. A new study by researchers at Mass General Brigham reveals that the timing of our meals also shifts over the years, with significant implications for health. The findings suggest that monitoring when we eat could be crucial, as delayed meal times, particularly breakfast, may predict an early death.
“As people get older, changes in health and daily routines can affect when they eat their meals,” the study’s authors noted. To explore the impact of these shifts on overall health, researchers examined data from nearly 3,000 older adults participating in the University of Manchester’s Longitudinal Study of Cognition in Normal Healthy Old Age, which tracked participants over several decades.
Shifting Meal Times and Health Implications
The study found that as people aged, they tended to eat breakfast and dinner later, with breakfast times shifting by about 45 minutes on average over the study’s five decades. The researchers observed that changes in meal timing are linked to both health and genetics. For instance, individuals who frequently reported feeling fatigued were more likely to delay breakfast. Additionally, later breakfast times were “consistently associated” with depression and anxiety.
Oral health issues and difficulties chewing or swallowing were also connected to a shorter daily eating window. Essentially, the more health challenges people reported, the more their meal schedules shifted with age. As for genetics, individuals predisposed to be “night owls” tended to eat their meals later as well.
Long-term Health Outcomes
The researchers then examined how this change in meal timing affects long-term health outcomes. Their findings were concerning for those who shifted their meals later as the years went on. Participants were divided into two groups: early and late eaters. After 10 years, the early eating group had a survival rate of 89.5%, compared to 86.7% in the late group.
For each additional hour of delay in breakfast, the all-cause mortality risk increased by 8 to 11% over the study period.
Expert Insights and Broader Implications
Dr. Hassan Dashti, the lead author of the study and a nutrition scientist and circadian biologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, highlighted the significance of these findings. “Up until now, we had a limited insight into how the timing of meals evolves later in life and how this shift relates to overall health and longevity,” he shared. “Our findings help fill that gap by showing that later meal timing, especially delayed breakfast, is tied to both health challenges and increased mortality risk in older adults.”
These results add new meaning to the saying that “breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” especially for older individuals. However, the authors clarified that their study cannot prove cause and effect but suggests a strong association between later meal times and increased mortality risk. They emphasize the need for further research to fully understand why this is happening and what it could mean for elder patient care.
Looking Ahead
The announcement comes as more attention is being paid to the role of circadian rhythms and meal timing in overall health. As researchers continue to explore these connections, the study underscores the importance of considering meal timing in dietary recommendations for older adults. Meanwhile, healthcare providers may need to incorporate these findings into their guidance for elder care, potentially advising patients to maintain earlier meal times to support longevity and well-being.
As the scientific community delves deeper into the links between meal timing and health outcomes, this study serves as a crucial reminder of the complex interplay between our daily routines and long-term health. The move represents a step forward in understanding how seemingly small lifestyle adjustments can have profound impacts on our health as we age.
