Association of skipping breakfast with depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveDepression is a significant global public health issue, and Breakfast habits may be related to its onset. This study conducted a meta-analysis of previous studies to analyze the correlation between breakfast and depression, comprehensively evaluated the association between skipping breakfas...

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Main Authors: Junwen Tan, Qingwei Meng, Cheng Luo, Shipeng Zhang, Enjie Tang, Yanjie Jiang, Sijing Cheng, Xueying Li, Ling Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychiatry
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1548282/full
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author Junwen Tan
Qingwei Meng
Cheng Luo
Shipeng Zhang
Enjie Tang
Yanjie Jiang
Sijing Cheng
Xueying Li
Ling Li
author_facet Junwen Tan
Qingwei Meng
Cheng Luo
Shipeng Zhang
Enjie Tang
Yanjie Jiang
Sijing Cheng
Xueying Li
Ling Li
author_sort Junwen Tan
collection DOAJ
description ObjectiveDepression is a significant global public health issue, and Breakfast habits may be related to its onset. This study conducted a meta-analysis of previous studies to analyze the correlation between breakfast and depression, comprehensively evaluated the association between skipping breakfast and the risk of depression, and explored the potential sources of heterogeneity.MethodsPubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched(the retrieval time limit for all was from the establishment of the databases to September 1, 2024), English documents were selected from the databases(the research type was observational study), and then the data was extracted and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale(NOS) was evaluated for data analysis of the selected studies. This study followed the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Project (PRISMA) and Prospero Registration Agreement. The mixed-effects model combines the maximum adjusted estimates and measures heterogeneity using the I2 statistic. Sensitivity analysis verified the robustness of the analysis and assessed publication bias.ResultsA meta-analysis of 12 literatures showed that skipping breakfast was positively correlated with the incidence of depression (RR=1.83, [95%CI 1.52-2.20], τ2: 0.09, I2: 96.37%). Egger test was conducted on the relationship between skipping breakfast and depression, P=0.067 > 0.05, and the result suggested that there was no significant publication bias. Subgroup analysis indicates that current studies in different regions still have deficiencies, and the analysis shows that the occurrence of depression is associated with gender and the sample size of the study.ConclusionsSkipping breakfast can increase the risk of depression. It suggests that we should pay attention to having a regular and standardized breakfast to reduce the risk of depression. High heterogeneity may stem from differences in dietary culture and assessment methods. In the future, more research is needed to explore the mechanism and increase studies in different regions.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier PROSPERO CRD42024583486.
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publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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series Frontiers in Psychiatry
spelling doaj-art-2808d77d75d545d2a7d2c008173b8d842025-08-20T03:44:01ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402025-08-011610.3389/fpsyt.2025.15482821548282Association of skipping breakfast with depression: a systematic review and meta-analysisJunwen Tan0Qingwei Meng1Cheng Luo2Shipeng Zhang3Enjie Tang4Yanjie Jiang5Sijing Cheng6Xueying Li7Ling Li8Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, 925 Hospital of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Joint Logistics Support Force, Guiyang, Guizhou, ChinaHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, 925 Hospital of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Joint Logistics Support Force, Guiyang, Guizhou, ChinaNanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, ChinaDepartment of Nephrology, The Central Hospital of Dazhou City, Dazhou, Sichuan, ChinaHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, 925 Hospital of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Joint Logistics Support Force, Guiyang, Guizhou, ChinaObjectiveDepression is a significant global public health issue, and Breakfast habits may be related to its onset. This study conducted a meta-analysis of previous studies to analyze the correlation between breakfast and depression, comprehensively evaluated the association between skipping breakfast and the risk of depression, and explored the potential sources of heterogeneity.MethodsPubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched(the retrieval time limit for all was from the establishment of the databases to September 1, 2024), English documents were selected from the databases(the research type was observational study), and then the data was extracted and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale(NOS) was evaluated for data analysis of the selected studies. This study followed the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Project (PRISMA) and Prospero Registration Agreement. The mixed-effects model combines the maximum adjusted estimates and measures heterogeneity using the I2 statistic. Sensitivity analysis verified the robustness of the analysis and assessed publication bias.ResultsA meta-analysis of 12 literatures showed that skipping breakfast was positively correlated with the incidence of depression (RR=1.83, [95%CI 1.52-2.20], τ2: 0.09, I2: 96.37%). Egger test was conducted on the relationship between skipping breakfast and depression, P=0.067 > 0.05, and the result suggested that there was no significant publication bias. Subgroup analysis indicates that current studies in different regions still have deficiencies, and the analysis shows that the occurrence of depression is associated with gender and the sample size of the study.ConclusionsSkipping breakfast can increase the risk of depression. It suggests that we should pay attention to having a regular and standardized breakfast to reduce the risk of depression. High heterogeneity may stem from differences in dietary culture and assessment methods. In the future, more research is needed to explore the mechanism and increase studies in different regions.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier PROSPERO CRD42024583486.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1548282/fulldepressionskipping breakfastmeta-analysissubgroup analysisoutcome analysis
spellingShingle Junwen Tan
Qingwei Meng
Cheng Luo
Shipeng Zhang
Enjie Tang
Yanjie Jiang
Sijing Cheng
Xueying Li
Ling Li
Association of skipping breakfast with depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Frontiers in Psychiatry
depression
skipping breakfast
meta-analysis
subgroup analysis
outcome analysis
title Association of skipping breakfast with depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full Association of skipping breakfast with depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_fullStr Association of skipping breakfast with depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Association of skipping breakfast with depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_short Association of skipping breakfast with depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_sort association of skipping breakfast with depression a systematic review and meta analysis
topic depression
skipping breakfast
meta-analysis
subgroup analysis
outcome analysis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1548282/full
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