Scientists Have Identified The Ideal Time For Breakfast

• 21.08.2026, 21:09

Eating habits can affect life expectancy.

Researchers have found that the time of day when people eat breakfast is linked to life expectancy: those who eat their first meal of the day after noon had a 29% higher risk of death than those who eat breakfast between 7 and 8 a.m. The study was published in the journal European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The researchers analyzed data from more than 31,000 American adults over the age of 40 who were followed from 1999 to 2018. During this period, approximately 7,000 people died, including more than 2,000 from cardiovascular disease.

It turned out that eating a late breakfast is associated not only with overall mortality but also with cardiovascular mortality—which was 46% higher. In terms of life expectancy, the difference amounted to about 2.46 years: on average, those who ate a late breakfast “lived 2.46 years less” by the time they reached age 50. Even breakfast between 8 and 10 a.m. was associated with a 10% higher risk, and breakfast between 10 a.m. and noon—with a 19% higher risk. Scientists attribute this to the body’s internal biological clock, for which not only what a person eats but also when they eat is important.

A similar pattern was found for late dinners: eating after midnight increased the risk of death by 27% compared to dinner at 7–8 p.m., and the relationship was U-shaped rather than linear.

The authors emphasize that this is an observational study. It is possible that a late breakfast is not the cause but the effect: older adults or those who are already ill may eat later due to feeling unwell or having a reduced appetite. Smoking, physical activity, diet quality, body mass index, and income were taken into account, but dietary intake was assessed only once, which limits the conclusions.