Nutrients: Skipping Breakfast Increases the Risk of Four Disorders

Scientists from Ningxia Medical University (China) have found that regularly skipping breakfast is associated with an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome. This cluster of conditions includes obesity, hypertension, elevated blood sugar, and high cholesterol levels. The results of the study were published in the journal Nutrients.

The analysis included data from nine studies involving tens of thousands of participants. It showed that skipping the morning meal correlated with a 10–26% higher likelihood of developing metabolic syndrome. The strongest associations were found with abdominal obesity (fat accumulation around the abdomen and internal organs) and elevated blood glucose levels.

The authors suggest that having regular morning meals may be linked to a more stable metabolism. Previous research has shown that eating breakfast helps regulate eating behavior throughout the day and reduces cravings for foods high in salt, sugar, fats, and carbohydrates.

The researchers emphasize that these findings are based on observational data and do not establish a causal relationship. However, they note that skipping breakfast may affect the regulation of glucose, insulin, and other metabolic indicators, which in the long term is associated with risk factors for cardiovascular and endocrine diseases.

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