Skipping Breakfast Linked to Increased Mortality Risk

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, August 30, 2026

Researchers analyzing data from over 31,000 U.S. adults found that skipping breakfast or delaying the first meal until noon increases the risk of death by up to 29%, with cardiovascular mortality rising by 43%. This association suggests that meal timing is a crucial factor for longevity, potentially reducing life expectancy by about 2.5 years in adults over 50 who delay breakfast until midday.

A recent study has found that skipping breakfast is associated with a significantly higher risk of mortality, including from cardiovascular causes. Researchers from Wuhan University analyzed data from over 31,000 adults aged 40 and older who participated in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2018. Their findings indicate that individuals who routinely delay their first meal until noon or later have a 29 percent increased risk of death from all causes compared to those who eat breakfast between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m.

The risk associated with skipping breakfast was particularly pronounced for heart disease, with a 43 percent higher likelihood of death observed in this group. Those who postponed eating until later in the morning also experienced elevated risks, with a 10 percent increase in overall mortality for those eating between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., and a 19 percent increase for those who ate between 10 a.m. and noon. Stroke-related mortality was notably higher as well, rising by 59 percent in the group that delayed breakfast until midday.

The research further revealed that for individuals aged 50 and above, delaying breakfast until noon was linked to a reduction in life expectancy by approximately 2.5 years. Lead author Dr. Wen Hu emphasized that meal timing may represent a modifiable behavior with significant implications for longevity and health outcomes.

While intermittent fasting—a dietary approach favored by some public figures and designed to extend periods without eating—has shown benefits in weight management partly due to calorie restriction, this new evidence suggests that skipping breakfast could have adverse effects. The study highlights potential mechanisms such as increased stress hormone levels, reduced energy availability, and heightened risks of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and metabolic disorders associated with breakfast omission.

Approximately 25 percent of adults in the United Kingdom report regularly missing breakfast, raising concerns about public health given these findings. The study underscores the importance of not only what and how much individuals eat, but also when meals occur, as timing may play a critical role in overall health and mortality risk.

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