Skipping Breakfast Is Linked To Early Death. How Worried Should I Be?

BreakfastA recent paper published in Nature established a link I (and, I suspect, some of my fellow breakfast skippers) found alarming: for every hour its elderly participants delayed breakfast, their risk of death seemed to rise by 10%.It follows a 2019 study, which found that “participants who never consumed breakfast had a 75% higher risk of all-cause mortality” (oof).Some researchers think this is because those who skip breakfast might end up consuming more food later, leading to issues in insulin sensitivity. Others suggest that those who eat breakfast later might be staying up later at night, which could carry its own health risks. But both of these studies are observational, meaning they can’t definitely prove skipping or delaying breakfast is a cause of increased mortality risk. So what does that actually mean for people like me, who never eat breakfast (well, at least not at breakfast time)? Here, Dr Suzanne Wylie, GP and medical adviser for IQdoctor, shared how worried she thinks we should be by this information. Approach this data with “caution” Though the doctor calls these findings “interesting, especially in light of recent research suggesting that later breakfasts may be linked with ageing and poorer health outcomes,” she added we should “interpret these findings with caution”. These are, after all, only observational studies (it would be very hard to conduct an ethical, decades-long randomised control trial for lots of people’s diets).“Association does not mean causation, and there are many possible explanations for this link,” Dr Wylie said.“For example, people who are unwell, fatigued, or living alone might naturally eat later, so it may be that poor health leads to delayed breakfasts, rather than the other way around.“From my perspective, I wouldn’t advise patients to panic about skipping or delaying breakfast occasionally,” she added. “For healthy adults, particularly those who prefer a later eating window or practise some form of intermittent fasting, it’s unlikely to cause significant harm in itself.” With that said, older people might benefit from regular meals Dr Wylie said that this doesn’t mean meal times are irrelevant for all people. “For older people, or those living with chronic illness or at risk of malnutrition, having regular, well-balanced meals is generally advisable,” she said.“Skipping breakfast in these groups could contribute to reduced energy intake, weight loss, or low blood sugar levels, especially if they’re taking certain medications.” And, she added, “there is emerging evidence that our bodies may function better when meals are eaten earlier in the day, aligning with our natural circadian rhythms”.Ultimately, the GP told us, the sum of a person’s habits is much more important than one factor taken in isolation.“Consider the broader picture: what someone eats, how active they are, and how well they sleep are all far more influential on long-term health than the precise time they have breakfast,” Dr Wylie stated. “So while I wouldn’t describe skipping or delaying breakfast as ‘bad’ in a blanket sense, I would encourage most patients, particularly older ones, to maintain a regular eating pattern and not to ignore early hunger cues.” Related...Food Sequencing: Why The First (And Last) Thing You Eat At Dinner MattersAnts Eating Your Plants? The Answer’s Hiding In Your Kitchen Cupboard'Choose Wisely': 11 Women On Their Biggest Marriage Regrets

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