Can Eating Breakfast Earlier Help You Live Longer?

A recent study led by Dr. Hassan Dashti of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School found that people who eat breakfast later in the morning may face a higher risk of mortality.

The study highlights chrononutrition, a growing field that explores how nutrition interacts with the body’s circadian rhythm, the internal clock that regulates sleep, metabolism, and emotional cycles.

While there isn’t a single cause for a higher mortality risk, we know that disrupting our circadian rhythm can impair glucose regulation, elevate blood pressure, and increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. These conditions may affect long-term health.

What Does This Mean For You?

• Prioritize breakfast: Eating earlier may help regulate appetite, improve energy levels, and support long-term health.
• Avoid late-night meals: They can disrupt sleep, and throw off your body’s rhythm.
• Improve sleep habits: If you’re not hungry in the morning, it might be due to poor sleep or hormonal shifts.

Gisela Alvarez, a dietitian at Jackson Memorial Medical Center, offers insight into why this can be challenging for many. “People struggle to have an early breakfast because they have little to no appetite,” said Alvarez. “Once you start to prioritize breakfast in the morning, your body will adapt, and your appetite might regulate to get used to earlier meal times.”

Eating an earlier breakfast may do more than jumpstart your day, it could be a key factor in living a longer, healthier life.