Later Breakfast Timing in Older Adults Linked to Poorer Health and Higher Mortality

A study published in Communications Medicine reveals that meal timing shifts with age and may serve as an important marker of health in older adults. Researchers from Mass General Brigham analyzed data from 2,945 UK adults aged 42–94, followed for over 20 years, to track changes in eating patterns and related health outcomes. They found that with aging, people tend to eat breakfast and dinner later, while narrowing their daily eating window.

Notably, later breakfast timing was consistently associated with health issues such as fatigue, depression, poor oral health, sleep disturbances, and difficulty preparing meals. More importantly, delayed breakfast was linked to a higher risk of death during follow-up. Genetic traits tied to being a “night owl” also correlated with later meal schedules.

The findings suggest that mealtime patterns, especially breakfast timing, could be a simple yet powerful indicator of health and longevity in aging populations.

04-09-2025