Daily meal schedule influences the risk of longevity, know how
A study analyzed the relationship between the duration of daily eating windows and mortality from various causes in American adults
A recent national study in the United States highlights the influence of the daily meal schedule on the longevity of adults. The concern arose because time-based diets have gained popularity for their health benefits, but their effects on human longevity remain unclear, with most evidence from short-term human trials and animal studies.
The analysis was conducted as part of the “Association Between Eating Window and Mortality in US Adults” study.
The results of the research, originally published in the journal Aging Cell, show a clear U-shaped relationship: Adults who maintained eating windows of 11 to 12 hours had a lower risk of premature death. Conversely, shorter or longer windows appeared to increase this risk.
Study Methodology
This study followed 33,052 US adults for a median of 8.1 years and documented 4,158 deaths, including 1,277 from cardiovascular disease and 989 from cancer.
Dietary intake was assessed using two 24-hour recalls, with the eating window defined as the time between the first and last intake of any caloric food in a day. Data from both recalls were averaged to account for day-to-day variation. Mortality outcomes, including all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer deaths, were obtained from the National Death Index.
Similarly, covariates included demographics, socioeconomic factors, lifestyle habits (smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and sleep), diet quality (measured using the Healthy Eating Index), and health status, including chronic diseases. Body mass index (BMI) and weight-related perceptions were also considered.
Results in detail
The lowest mortality risk was associated with an eating duration of 11 to 12 hours per day. Eating for less than 8 hours per day was consistently associated with higher all-cause mortality, showing a 34% higher risk compared to the reference group (12 to 12.99 hours).
Longer eating windows (15 hours or more) were also associated with a 25% increased risk of developing the condition. However, this association was only statistically significant in white participants and had a confidence interval (CI) of 1.01 to 1.55, indicating borderline significance after full adjustment.
Notably, subgroup analyses revealed critical nuances:
Final considerations
The study raises important considerations for dietary habits. Experts suggest that awareness about meal timing could be crucial to improving health and increasing longevity in the adult population.