Study Links Irregular Meals to 1.55-Fold Higher Depression Odds in 21,568 Adults

5 articles · Updated · PsyPost · May 25

21,568 South Korean adults with the most irregular meal schedules showed 1.55 times higher odds of depression symptoms than those eating at regular times, according to a Journal of Affective Disorders study.
The association strengthened as meal timing grew more erratic, while a more diverse diet across six food groups appeared to blunt the link between skipped meals and low mood.
Breakfast skipping stood out as a key risk factor: people with irregular meals and low dietary diversity had the worst mental-health scores, and even highly varied diets did not fully offset missing breakfast.
Men, current smokers and people eating after 9 p.m. showed slightly stronger associations, though the researchers said the cross-sectional, self-reported data cannot prove irregular eating causes depression.
The findings add to evidence that when people eat may matter alongside what they eat, pointing to regular meal routines as a potentially accessible mental-health support.

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