Skipped, delayed breakfast can alter mood

Nontraditional eating patterns, such as skipped or delayed breakfast, are potentially linked to mood disorders, according to a study.

The analysis involved 1,304 individuals who reported 24-h food and beverage intake during 2004–2006 (at age 26–36 years) and 2009–2011 follow-up (at age 31–41 years). The resulting data revealed three time-of-day eating patterns: grazing (intake spread across the day), traditional (highest intakes reflected breakfast, lunch, and dinner), and late (skipped/delayed breakfast with higher evening intakes).

Over the 5-year follow-up, individuals in the highest vs lowest tertile of the late pattern at both time-points had a higher prevalence of mood disorder (prevalence ratio [PR], 2.04, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.20–3.48).

On the other hand, those in the highest vs lowest tertile of the traditional pattern at both time-points had a lower prevalence of first-onset mood disorder (PR, 0.31, 95 percent CI, 0.11–0.87).

In log binomial and adjacent categories log-link regression models, participants who experienced a mood disorder during follow-up were more likely to have a higher late eating pattern score compared with those without mood disorder (relative risk, 1.07, 95 percent confidence interval, 1.00–1.14).

The findings suggest that the timing of meals is just as important for the health as the amount of food consumed. The association between skipped/delayed breakfast and the risk of a mood disorder may be explained by the hormonal and circadian effects of eating at a certain time, as well as chronotype, that is whether someone is a morning or an evening person.