Meal timing linked to mortality risk in US adult study

A study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that the timing of daily meals is linked to mortality risk and life expectancy. Analyzing data from over 31,000 American adults aged 40 and older from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999–2018), researchers found that delaying the first meal of the day is associated with higher health risks.

Using the 7:00 to 8:00 a.m. window as a reference, the study found that eating the first meal between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. increased all-cause mortality risk by 10%. This risk rose to 19% for those eating between 10:00 a.m. and noon, and reached 29% for those eating after midday. Notably, individuals eating their first meal after noon faced a 46% higher risk of cardiovascular death compared to the reference group. For participants aged 50 or older, eating the first meal after noon was associated with a reduction in life expectancy of approximately 2.5 years.

The study also examined the final meal of the day, noting a U-shaped relationship between dinner timing and mortality. Researchers emphasized that this is an observational study, meaning it identifies correlations rather than proving that meal timing directly causes earlier death.