Irregular meals have been linked to an increased risk of depression
Skipping breakfast, eating lunch on the run or eating dinner late at night seem like a normal part of a busy schedule. But a new study shows that irregular meals may be linked not only to physical well-being, but also to mental well-being.
Scientists analysed data from more than 21,000 adults in South Korea and found that people who ate irregular main meals were more likely to report depressive symptoms. The risk was about 1.55 times higher compared to those who ate more consistently.
Important: The study does not prove that skipping breakfast or lunch itself causes depression. Depression is a complex condition influenced by stress, sleep, health, income, work, social support and other factors. But nutrition may be one element linked to this risk.
Details
The researchers used data from the KNHANES National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2014-2022. The sample included 21,568 adults aged 19 years and older.
Researchers looked at how often participants ate the three main meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If a person ate any of these meals less than five times a week, they were considered irregular.
Symptoms of depression were assessed using the standardised PHQ-9 questionnaire. This is a common tool that helps to identify signs of depression.
The results showed: the less regular the meals were, the more likely they were to have depressive symptoms. The link was particularly noticeable in men, smokers and people who often ate late at night or in the evening.
Separately, the researchers looked at the quality of the diet. It turned out that a varied diet can partially mitigate the link between irregular meals and depressive symptoms. We're talking about a diet with different food groups: vegetables, fruit, cereals, legumes and nuts, meat or other protein sources, and dairy products.
Why it's important
The brain needs energy and nutrients. It makes up a small fraction of body weight, but it uses a lot of energy. So sudden disruptions in eating patterns, constant skipping of meals and poor diets can be linked to well-being, energy levels and mood.
But it's important not to draw too simple a conclusion here. You can't say, "if you skip breakfast, you'll be depressed." The reverse is also possible: a person with depressive symptoms may skip meals more often due to fatigue, decreased appetite, disturbed sleep, or a general breakdown in routines.
The practical conclusion is milder: regular meals and a more varied diet can be one simple element of mental health care. It's not a substitute for treatment or universal prevention, but it's a potentially important habit.
Background
The link between diet and mental health is being increasingly studied. It's not just about specific foods, but also about routines: when a person eats, how consistently they eat, whether they skip breakfast, whether there are different food groups in their diet.
Previous studies have already linked skipping breakfast to a higher risk of depressive symptoms, although results may vary between countries and groups. The new work adds to this broader picture: it's not just breakfast that matters, but also the overall regularity of main meals.
However, the authors emphasise that further research is needed to better understand the mechanism of the link. For example, whether irregular meals affect energy levels, sleep quality, circadian rhythms, inflammatory processes, gut microbiota or other factors.
Source
Hyejin Tae et al, "Irregular meal frequency and depressive symptoms: Moderating roles of dietary diversity and breakfast skipping", Journal of Affective Disorders, 2026.