To Your Health
August, 2023 (Vol. 17, Issue 08) |
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Eat Breakfast Early
By Editorial Staff
Eat your first meal of the day early – that's one piece of advice for preventing type 2 diabetes, suggests new research. While not eating breakfast – or not eating until late in the morning – has become a trend for weight loss (think
intermittent fasting) and overall health, when it comes to diabetes prevention, that might not be sound advice. According to a new study, eating breakfast after 9 a.m. increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by a whopping 59% compared to eating breakfast before 8 a.m.
But eating breakfast early isn't the only timing variable impacting diabetes risk: eating more frequently (approximately five times per day) vs. eating less frequently decreased risk. Researchers arrived at their findings by tracking 100,000+ adults for an average of seven years after gathering dietary data from participants, including meal timing, for three non-consecutive days over the first two years.
The researchers address the intermittent fasting issue as it relates to their findings (they evaluated the impact of nighttime fasting as well), suggesting that intermittent fasting can be best accomplished within the parameters of the "start early, end early" eating pattern (early breakfast, early dinner). Study participants who ate breakfast before 8 a.m. and fasted for more than 13 hours overnight showed a reduced incidence of type 2 diabetes. (The implication is that to achieve a 13+-hour overnight fast when eating breakfast early, they must have eaten their final meal of the day earlier, rather than later.)
Keep in mind, of course, that meal timing and frequency are only part of the diabetes-prevention equation. What and how much you consume is an entirely different conversation, as diet is a key lifestyle variable impacting type 2 diabetes risk. Talk to your doctor for more information.
