The optimal meal time is related to life expectancy
In recent years, more and more people have tried to limit their food intake in time, hoping to improve their metabolism and protect their hearts. However, it has now become clear that extremes in this approach may not be safe. New work has shown that too short or excessively long a meal window can increase the risk of early death. The safest option turned out to be the distribution of food for 11-12 hours a day.
A team of American experts analyzed data from more than 33,000 adults, observing them for eight years. It turned out that people who ate less than eight hours a day had a one-third higher risk of premature death compared to those who ate for 11-12 hours.
On the other hand, stretching food for almost a whole day — 15 hours or more — also proved to be unfavorable. This habit increased the likelihood of problems with the cardiovascular system, although the effect was less pronounced.
It is important to note that a moderate diet worked equally well for both men and women, especially in the older age groups. But strict restrictions more often harmed men and people of the older generation, increasing the burden on the heart.
The authors emphasize that we are not talking about the abolition of intermittent fasting. The main conclusion is that too short and too long periods of eating carry risks, whereas the golden mean is the habit of distributing food within 11-12 hours.
Published
September, 2025
Category
Interesting facts
Duration of reading
1—2 minutes
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