We’ve always been told that breakfast was the most important meal of the day. No matter how big or small, it’s always best to start your day with food. Now more than ever this rings true.
A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that women who skipped breakfast even once a week were 20 percent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who ate a meal every morning.
The study looked at data from more than 45,000 women who were initially free of cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes, and assessed their eating patterns over a six-year period.
Those who chose to forego breakfast but ate frequently (four or more times a day) had a greater risk of developing diabetes, while a lower body mass index (BMI) seemed to mitigate some of the danger associated with irregular breakfast consumption.
Translation: skipping breakfast isn’t a smart idea for anyone, but seems to be even more harmful for those who are overweight.
Not only does skipping breakfast increase your chances of developing type 2 diabetes, it can have negative effects on your mood, memory and energy levels, at least until you get a bite to eat during lunchtime.
Skipping breakfast is also linked to weight gain, particularly around the midsection, as well as high blood pressure.