Meal timing linked to increased mortality risk in US study

An observational study involving more than 31,000 adults in the United States suggests that the timing of the first and last meals of the day is linked to mortality risk. Researchers from Huazhong University of Science and Technology analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning from 1999 to 2018, tracking participants over an average of 8.6 years.

The findings indicate that delaying the first meal of the day is associated with an increased risk of death from various causes, particularly cardiovascular diseases. Specifically, compared to those who eat their first meal between 7:00 and 8:00 AM, those eating between 8:00 and 10:00 AM faced a 10% higher risk of all-cause mortality. This risk rose to 19% for those eating between 10:00 AM and noon, and reached 29% for those starting after 12:00 PM. For cardiovascular-related deaths, the risk for those eating their first meal after noon was 46% higher than for those eating between 7:00 and 8:00 AM.

The study also noted a relationship between the timing of the final meal of the day and increased mortality rates.