Ever wonder if that “skip breakfast, eat later” routine might be doing more than slimming your waistline? Intermittent fasting and bone health are more connected than many people realize, and what you don’t know could be putting your residents at risk.

Osteoporotic fractures are no small matter, and prevention is a growing public health priority. While age, sex, and medications all play a role in bone health, lifestyle habits, especially the ones we can control, often carry the greatest weight. Lack of exercise, smoking, poor sleep, and heavy alcohol use have long been known to lower bone density. But recent findings suggest that dietary patterns, particularly meal timing, may be just as important.

In a study published by Medscape, skipping breakfast was linked to lower bone mineral density (BMD). Surprisingly, those who regularly skipped breakfast experienced higher odds of fractures, even if they didn’t have osteoporosis. For example, Japanese male college students who avoided breakfast saw lumbar spine BMD decline over just three years, and young Japanese women had noticeably lower hip bone density.

The suspected link? Vitamin D. Participants who skipped breakfast also had significantly lower levels of this essential nutrient, suggesting that morning meals may play a vital role in maintaining strong bones.

This brings us to a growing trend. Intermittent fasting and bone health don’t always go hand in hand. Many people now fast for 16 hours and eat during an 8-hour window, often skipping breakfast and starting meals around noon. But if this pattern is contributing to lower vitamin D and reduced bone density, even in young, otherwise healthy adults, what does that mean for older adults in our senior living communities?

While intermittent fasting has some reported benefits, communities should consider whether the potential weight management gains are worth the added fracture risk. After all, frailty and falls are already serious concerns in this population.

If residents do follow intermittent fasting schedules, there are ways to help minimize harm: encourage calcium-rich meals during eating windows, reduce alcohol use, support smoking cessation, and make sure physicians monitor vitamin D levels regularly. Even small adjustments may help protect bone health and lower fracture risk over time.

Stay well and stay informed!