US study on meal timing and mortality risk

A large-scale observational study of over 31,000 US adults has identified a link between the timing of daily meals and mortality risk. Analyzing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2018, researchers found that delaying the first meal of the day is associated with higher risks of death from various causes.

Compared to individuals eating their first meal between 7:00 and 8:00 am, those eating between 8:00 and 10:00 am showed a 10 percent higher risk of all-cause mortality. This risk increased to 19 percent for those eating between 10:00 am and noon, and reached 29 percent for those eating after noon. The correlation was particularly strong regarding cardiovascular mortality, with those eating their first meal after noon facing a 46 percent higher risk compared to the earliest eaters.

New details from the research, published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, highlight that the findings are particularly relevant to adults aged 40 and older. Specifically, participants aged 50 or older who consumed their first meal later in the day had an average life expectancy nearly 2.5 years shorter. Researchers also noted a relationship between the timing of the final meal of the day and increased mortality rates, though they emphasized that these findings show an association rather than direct proof that changing meal times alters life expectancy.