Let’s Put Breakfast Back on the Table: A Literature Review of Associations Between Breakfast Skipping and Mental Health

Mental health disorders impact over 970 million individuals globally. Nutrition, particularly breakfast consumption, has emerged as a potential modifiable risk factor of poor mental health. This literature review aimed to synthesize and critically review existing research on the relationship between breakfast skipping and mental health across the lifespan, identifying patterns, gaps, and potential public health implications. A comprehensive search following PRISMA guidelines was conducted in PubMed using terms related to breakfast consumption and mental health outcomes. Of 336 articles captured, 11 met the inclusion criteria and comprised 9 cross-sectional studies, one retrospective cohort study, and one systematic literature review with meta-analysis (SLR+MA). The SLR+MA revealed a significant association between breakfast skipping and increased odds of depression (OR: 1.39), stress (OR: 1.23), and psychological distress (OR: 1.55). The retrospective cohort study indicated that delayed or skipped breakfast correlated with higher mood disorder prevalence. The cross-sectional studies consistently supported the protective role of regular breakfast consumption against adverse mental health outcomes. This review underscores breakfast skipping as a significant public health concern with clear implications for mental health. The cross-sectional nature of most captured studies limits causal inference and highlights the need for longitudinal research. Addressing the bidirectional relationship between dietary habits and mental health could enhance public health intervention strategies and potentially reduce healthcare costs while improving overall well-being.