Health
Skipping Breakfast May Impact Your Bones
Health Points
- New research links skipping breakfast or eating late dinners with a higher risk of bone fractures.
- Poor meal timing might disrupt your body clock and hormone balance, impacting nutrient absorption needed for strong bones.
- Experts agree a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle habits remain key to bone health as we age.
New findings suggest that missing breakfast or having dinner close to bedtime may increase the risk of bone fractures, especially as we get older.
Researchers followed over 900,000 Japanese adults and found that skipping breakfast more than three times a week raised fracture risk by 18%, while eating late dinners boosted it by 8%.
“The study does strengthen the idea that lifestyle patterns may affect bone health, beyond just individual nutrients.”
Other common factors, like less physical activity or poor sleep, often go hand-in-hand with these eating routines, making it even more important to consider overall lifestyle.
Experts point out that while this study is robust, it can’t prove a direct cause and effect, but it does highlight the potential value of keeping regular, balanced meals for long-term bone strength.
“Evidence shows that low weight anorexia reduces peak bone mass, which is the No. 1 factor that you can modify to reduce risk of fracture in later years.”
Eating habits may interact with your body’s natural clock, affecting how vitamins and minerals are used to keep bones strong.
For lasting bone health, experts still recommend enjoying a varied diet rich in calcium, vitamin D, protein, and whole grains—more important than exactly when you eat each meal.
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