As people grow older, not only does what they eat change, but so does when they eat.
While researchers have long studied the effects of diet on aging, the role of meal timing has been less understood.
Now, a study published in *Communications Medicine* offers new insight.
Researchers from Mass General Brigham and their partners examined over 2,900 adults aged 42 to 94 in the UK. They followed participants for over 20 years and discovered that older adults tend to delay both breakfast and dinner times as they age, while also shortening the overall time window in which they eat each day.
A key discovery was that later breakfast times were linked with multiple health concerns, including:
- – Depression
- – Fatigue
- – Oral health problems
- – Difficulty preparing meals
- – Poor sleep quality
More importantly, individuals who consistently ate breakfast later were more likely to die earlier during the study period. This link was even stronger among those genetically inclined to be ‘night owls’.
Lead author Dr. Hassan Dashti emphasized the potential of meal timing, especially breakfast, as a simple marker for monitoring health in older adults.
Shifts in mealtime routines may act as early warning signs for hidden physical or mental health issues. Encouraging older people to maintain consistent meal schedules might support healthier aging and longer lives.
This research challenges the one-size-fits-all approach to trends like intermittent fasting or time-restricted eating. It highlights the need for age-specific strategies when it comes to dietary habits. For older adults, eating earlier—especially breakfast—may be more crucial than previously thought.
The study is published in Communications Medicine.
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