A recent study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology has shown that eating breakfast earlier may substantially reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The study included over 100,000 French adults. Participants filled in an online record of what they ate over a 24-hour period, including the timing of their meals, over three non-consecutive days. The dietary records were averaged over the first two years of the study (average of almost 6 records per participant), and then participants’ health was monitored during a follow-up period with a median time of 7.3 years. The goal of the study was to measure the associations between type 2 diabetes development and meal timing, number of meals, and night-time fasting duration.
The results showed that eating breakfast after 9 am was associated with a 59% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to eating breakfast before 8 am. Eating a late dinner (after 10 pm) also appeared to increase the risk of developing diabetes, while eating more frequently (about 5 meals per day) was associated with lower risk. Prolonged fasting decreased risk, but only if the fast included having an early breakfast and an early dinner.
The authors of the study noted that these results make sense biologically; skipping breakfast is known to impact lipid control, glucose control, and insulin levels. Additionally, the results of this study are consistent with previous research showing that skipping breakfast is associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a serious risk factor for heart disease; people with diabetes are twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke compared to the general population, and the onset tends to be younger. To prevent both diabetes and heart disease, it seems that eating breakfast regularly and at an early time may be beneficial.
Sources: International Journal of Epidemiology, Science Daily, CDC
