Study Finds Eating Breakfast after 9 a.m. Increases Type 2 Diabetes Risk by 59%
A new study conducted by ISGlobal, an institution supported by the “la Caixa” Foundation, suggests that eating breakfast after 9 a.m. can significantly increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to an earlier breakfast. The study, which followed more than 100,000 participants for seven years, found that meal timing has a significant impact on glucose control and insulin levels.
The research team examined the eating patterns of the participants, who were part of the French NutriNet-Santé cohort. Participants filled in online dietary records of what they ate and drank over a 24-hour period on three non-consecutive days, as well as the timing of their meals. The team then assessed the participants’ health over the following years.
The results revealed that eating breakfast after 9 a.m. increased the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 59% compared to those who ate breakfast before 8 a.m. The risk was even higher for those who regularly ate dinner after 10 p.m. Additionally, the study found that eating more frequently (about five times a day) was associated with a lower incidence of the disease.
“We know that meal timing plays a key role in regulating circadian rhythms and glucose and lipid control, but few studies have investigated the relationship between meal timing or fasting and type 2 diabetes,” says Anna Palomar-Cros, ISGlobal researcher and first author of the study.
The findings of this study highlight the importance of meal timing in disease prevention, suggesting that adjusting when we eat can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. “Our results suggest that a first meal before 8 a.m. and a last meal before 7 p.m. may help reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes,” concludes Manolis Kogevinas, ISGlobal researcher and co-author of the study.
This study adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the concept of chrononutrition, which explores the association between diet, circadian rhythms, and health. The same ISGlobal team has previously provided evidence of the association between an early dinner and a lower risk of breast or prostate cancer.
The implications of this research are significant, as type 2 diabetes is a growing global health concern. By understanding the impact of meal timing on the disease, individuals can make informed choices about when they eat to reduce their risk.
Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms behind the relationship between meal timing and type 2 diabetes risk. The study’s findings were published in the International Journal of Epidemiology.
Reference:
“Associations of meal timing, number of eating occasions and night-time fasting duration with the incidence of type 2 diabetes in the NutriNet-Santé cohort” by Anna Palomar-Cros, Bernard Srour, Valentina A Andreeva, Léopold K Fezeu, Alice Bellicha, Emmanuelle Kesse-Guyot, Serge Hercberg, Dora Romaguera, Manolis Kogevinas and Mathilde Touvier, 16 June 2023, International Journal of Epidemiology.
DOI: 10.1093/walk/dyad081
Funding: PRE2019-089038/Ministry of Economy in Spain