Overview
- Each hour of delay in the first meal was associated with about an 8% higher mortality risk, with ten‑year survival at 89.5% for early eaters versus 86.7% for late eaters.
- The University of Manchester study tracked nearly 3,000 adults aged 42 to 94 in the Manchester and Newcastle areas over roughly 22 years.
- Breakfast timing shifted later with age by about three minutes per decade, and later eating correlated with depression, fatigue, poor sleep, multimorbidity, and an evening chronotype averaging 7.2 minutes later.
- The research did not account for snacks, nutrient intake, or physical activity, which limits interpretation and suggests the timing signal may reflect broader health or lifestyle factors.
- Coverage places the finding in a mixed evidence base, highlighting guidance that prioritizes healthier breakfast choices and personalization, with some experts noting benefits for youth and others questioning universal breakfast necessity.