Is a Late Brekkie a Death Sentence?
Love a lazy Sunday sleep-in and a midday brekkie? You’re not alone. However, a new study suggests that your beloved 11:59 a.m. avocado toast might be affecting your longevity.
Don’t Panic Just Yet
No one’s saying a late breakfast will send you to the pearly gates. And getting up at 4 a.m. to smash Weet-Bix doesn’t make you immortal either. However, researchers have identified a curious link between late breakfasts and an earlier death, particularly in older adults.
The Study Scoop
The study tracked around 3,000 adults aged 42–94 from Newcastle and Manchester in the UK. Data was collected from 1983 to 2017. Participants filled out questionnaires on lifestyle, health, and eating habits.
What they found: As people aged, they ate breakfast and dinner later. And those later eating times? Linked to poorer health and, yep, a higher risk of dying sooner.
How Much Sooner?
For every hour later someone ate breakfast, their risk of dying during the study went up by 8 to 11%. Oof.
So, What’s Going On?
It’s not just the time. As we age, health problems, mobility issues, and even making toast can feel like running a marathon. Mental fatigue kicks in too. Late meals may just be a side effect of other issues, not the cause.
Bottom Line?
Eat when it works for you, but maybe don’t wait till lunch to fuel up. And yes, we’re still calling it brekkie, even if it’s at 11:59.
