Skipping meals or eating at irregular times of the day could worsen mental health, according to a new study.
Meal timings and eating routines could play a surprising role in mental health. A new study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders has found that irregular meal schedules are associated with higher depression risks.
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Analysing data from 21,568 adults in the 2014-2022 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey collected by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Korean researchers uncovered a strong association between meal frequency and psychological wellbeing.
Previous research has shown that irregular eating patterns increase the risk of adverse metabolic outcomes such as obesity, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular disease.
The new study found that people with lower regularity of main meals had 55% higher odds of depression compared to those following more consistent schedules.
At the same time, they saw that greater dietary diversity was found to reduce the negative effects of erratic eating, whereas skipping breakfast intensified them.
The strongest associations were found in men, smokers, and late-night eaters.
“These results indicate that lower regularity of main-meal consumption may constitute an independent risk factor for depressive symptoms, regardless of other dietary or lifestyle factors,” the authors wrote.
What are the effects of skipping meals?
The researchers noted that inconsistent meal times can disrupt the body’s metabolic and behavioural rhythms, linked to circadian rhythms – the body’s internal clock that governs biological processes throughout the day.
This disruption can trigger alterations in mood-regulating genes, leading to hormonal imbalances such as dysregulated melatonin and cortisol secretion
“Such rhythm-related dysregulation can compromise affective regulation by destabilizing daily fluctuations in mood and diminishing emotional resilience,” the authors wrote.
Irregular eating is also frequently linked to insufficient intake of key nutrients related to mood regulation, such as B vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants.
From a psychological standpoint, the authors noted that irregular meal consumption patterns can also signal disorganised daily routines or social withdrawal. All of which are linked to worsening mental health.
“Collectively, these pathways indicate that lower regularity of meal consumption may serve as both a behavioral indicator and a biological contributor to depression,” the authors said.
Increased focus on lifestyle factors for mental health
More than a billion people worldwide are currently living with a mental health condition, a number expected to rise in the coming years. *link to mental health story from last week
Depression has been identified as one of the primary drivers of this burden, and alongside anxiety, remains the most common mental health condition affecting both men and women.
Against this backdrop, researchers and doctors are increasingly directing their attention to modifiable lifestyle factors and prevention strategies.
The study noted that while depression arises from multiple causes, growing evidence highlights the role of dietary habits in the onset and trajectory of depressive symptoms.
The research has some limitations, notably its cross-sectional design, which doesn’t allow for establishing direct causation.
More research is needed to establish whether lower regularity of meal consumption increases depression risk, or whether depression itself leads to irregular eating, or both.
However, the authors stressed that these findings suggest encouraging consistent meal consumption patterns – especially those with greater dietary diversity and a reliable breakfast – may offer a practical, non-pharmacological approach to reducing depression risk.
