You ended up sleeping through breakfast, working through lunch, or arriving home tired and sleepy that you headed straight to bed. Will there be any consequences? While your body’s reaction to a missed meal depends on your health, diet and age, the act of skipping even just one meal could jump-start any of the following physiological processes.
1. You’ll Gain More Weight
The link between losing weight and skipping meals are quite tricky. A research suggests you’ll lose some pounds in the short term, but you’ll eventually gain some dangerous belly fat. More studies also showed that the weight you lose every time you skip meals might actually come from your muscles, which is hardly ideal. You may have some potentially good reasons to skip meals, but losing weight shouldn’t be one of them.
2. You’ll Run Low on Nutrients
While skipping meals every now and then can be beneficial, you’ll increase your risk of developing nutrient deficiencies linked with poor mental function, fatigue and other health concerns. If you’re thinking of fasting on a regular basis, consult a registered dietitian first to ensure that you’re getting enough minerals, proteins, vitamins and essential fatty acids from your meals and snacks.
3. You’ll Increase Your Risk of Developing Certain Diseases
If you skip breakfast regularly, then you’re likely headed for trouble. A study conducted by a group of researchers in Singapore found that women who routinely skipped their breakfast increased their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 20 percent. Remember that our body is fasting as we sleep at night, and skipping your breakfast regularly could put a strain on your body, leading to development of type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance and even blood pressure problems.
4. You’ll Eat More Unhealthy Meals
Researchers found that meal-skippers tend to grab more junk food when grocery shopping compared with when they had a snack beforehand. Shoppers who visit the grocery store during their high-hunger hours (typically between 4PM to 7PM) also tend to choose and consume high-calorie meal options. Simply put, your body may crave for unhealthier food every time you skip meals.
5. You’ll End Up Skipping Exercise As Well
Although a morning workout without food offers fat-burning benefits, this equation might change later in the day. Combine your low blood sugar with a skipped meal and the physical and mental demands of your work and your other obligations, and you’ll find it nearly impossible to work out after skipping just one meal.
Although your body’s reaction to meal skipping depends on your age, diet and health, skipping your meals could cause or trigger some serious health issues. Thus, it’s crucial for you to ensure that you eat your meals regularly not just to maintain but to also improve your overall health.