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A new study from Nara Medical University in Japan reveals that skipping breakfast and eating dinner late may increase the risk of osteoporosis. Researchers analyzed data from 927,130 individuals from an insurance claims database, focusing on adults aged 20 and older. The study, published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society, found that these eating habits are independently associated with a higher risk of osteoporotic fractures, particularly in the hip, spine, and humerus.
Participants, with a median age of 67, were observed over approximately 2.6 years. The study adjusted for conventional risk factors like age and body mass index (BMI) and found that skipping breakfast increased the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) for fractures by 1.18, while late dinners raised it by 1.08. Lead author Hiroki Nakajima, M.D., Ph.D., noted that these eating patterns often co-occur with other unhealthy behaviors such as smoking and insufficient sleep, suggesting that comprehensive lifestyle counseling could help in fracture prevention.
The study highlights the importance of regular meal schedules, as irregular eating patterns were linked to other poor lifestyle choices. While the research is observational and does not establish causation, it underscores the potential impact of dietary habits on bone health.