A new international study suggests that when older adults eat—particularly the timing of breakfast—could provide clues about their overall health and risk of early death.
Researchers followed nearly 3,000 adults in the United Kingdom over more than three decades, analyzing their lifestyle habits, health outcomes, and meal timing. The findings, published in Communications Medicine, show that eating breakfast later in the day was linked to a higher risk of dying from any cause during the study period.
Later Breakfast, Higher Risk
Participants, aged 42 to 94 at enrollment, were tracked from 1983 to 2017. Over time, many shifted their eating schedules—delaying both breakfast and dinner and narrowing the window in which they ate. These later eating patterns were associated with poorer physical and mental health.
Importantly, the study found that each hour’s delay in eating breakfast corresponded with an 8% to 11% increase in mortality risk.
“Our research suggests that changes in when older adults eat, especially the timing of breakfast, could serve as an easy-to-monitor marker of their overall health status,” said lead researcher Hassan Dashti, PhD, a nutrition scientist at Harvard Medical School.
Cause or Consequence?
The researchers stress that eating late is not necessarily the cause of earlier death. Instead, declining health in older age may lead to delayed mealtimes. For example, poor sleep can make it harder to wake up and eat early, while reduced mobility or energy levels may delay preparing meals.
“Up until now, we had limited insight into how meal timing evolves later in life and how it relates to health and longevity,” Dashti explained. “Our findings help fill that gap by showing that delayed meals, particularly breakfast, are tied to health challenges and higher mortality risk.”
What This Means for Healthy Aging
The results could help clinicians and caregivers identify at-risk older adults through simple observations of daily routines. If someone begins consistently eating much later than usual, it might signal underlying health concerns worth investigating.
As the global population ages, such insights may play an important role in promoting healthier, longer lives. Consistent meal timing could also be encouraged as part of broader strategies for healthy aging.
“Patients and clinicians can possibly use shifts in mealtime routines as an early warning sign to look into underlying physical and mental health issues,” Dashti said. “Encouraging older adults to maintain regular meal schedules could support longevity and well-being.”
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