Health
Doctors Reveal the Truth About Skipping Breakfast and Your Weight
The longstanding belief that breakfast is the most critical meal of the day often clashes with modern lifestyles where many individuals skip this morning ritual, sometimes resorting to just a cup of coffee. While this might seem like a harmless habit, it can have significant implications, especially for those aiming to lose weight.
According to Trista Best, RDN, from The Candida Diet, skipping breakfast can affect people differently. “Breakfast isn’t necessarily reserved for a time, but it literally breaks the fast, the time of day where you break your fast from the previous night,” she explains. Understanding how skipping breakfast impacts your body is crucial, whether it’s a planned part of your routine or not.
One common misconception is that skipping breakfast helps reduce calorie intake. Crystal Wyllie, MD, from ZAVA Online Doctor, warns, “When you miss that first meal, your body tends to produce more of the hunger hormone ghrelin, which can leave you feeling ravenous later in the day.” This can lead to cravings for high-fat, sugary, or processed foods, potentially resulting in overeating at subsequent meals.
Shyamala Vishnumohan, MD, founder of The Pregnancy Dietitian, emphasizes that weight management isn’t solely about whether you eat breakfast. “Real life isn’t a lab: Many people end up eating more later or feeling drained and craving quick energy fixes,” she notes. The key is maintaining a balanced and sustainable eating pattern to support weight management.
Skipping breakfast also means missing out on essential nutrients often found in morning meals. C. Vivek Lal, MD, of ResBiotic Nutrition, points out, “For those who are prone to digestive issues, not eating breakfast can mean missed opportunities to support gut health through fiber-rich foods.” A nutritious breakfast can provide lasting energy and promote a healthy microbiome balance.
On the positive side, skipping breakfast can support certain dietary strategies like intermittent fasting. Neha Lalani, MD, CEO of Bluebonnet Diabetes & Endocrinology, explains, “If skipping breakfast allows you to maintain at least a 12-hour gap between the last meal of the previous day and the first meal of the current day, it can promote fat burning and initiate ketosis.” However, she stresses the importance of staying hydrated and choosing nutrient-rich foods once you do eat to avoid excessive hunger and fatigue.
Finally, skipping breakfast can affect your physical performance, particularly if you engage in morning workouts. As Dasgupta cautions, “Morning workouts can suffer. If you exercise early, skipping breakfast might leave you feeling weak or low on stamina.” For those who find their exercise routines impacted, reconsidering the decision to skip breakfast might be beneficial.
In conclusion, while skipping breakfast might seem like a straightforward approach to cutting calories, it can have unintended consequences on your health and weight management. Balancing your meals throughout the day and ensuring you receive necessary nutrients are essential considerations for anyone contemplating this dietary choice.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
