Skipping breakfast may initially seem like a useful choice for some, especially those looking to cut calories or streamline their daily routine, but this eating behavior may carry hidden negative effects on blood sugar balance.
اضافة اعلان
In this context, Verywell Health, drawing on studies and reports, presented 5 effects of skipping breakfast on the body in general and on blood sugar in particular.
Sharper Blood Sugar Spikes Later in the Day
When breakfast is skipped, the body doesn't receive those calories, leading to a significant blood sugar spike at lunch or dinner.
This shift is linked to what's known as the "second meal effect," where eating earlier in the day helps the body better handle glucose at the second meal. When breakfast is skipped, the body loses that ability.
According to a 2025 study, people who skip breakfast showed a higher glycemic response after their second meal, and fluctuations in glucose increase fatigue and intense food cravings, affecting the body overall.
The Liver Releases More Glucose
In the morning, the body releases glucose stored in the liver to maintain energy levels. When breakfast is skipped, this process continues longer than it should.
Skipping the morning meal pushes the liver to increase glucose production during fasting periods to maintain energy, while insulin levels remain low. This effect may be more pronounced in people with insulin resistance.
Energy Level Fluctuations
Some people feel focused or energized when skipping breakfast, but over time, blood sugar drops or fluctuates, leading to a drop in energy.
Initially, cortisol rises in the morning, temporarily raising blood sugar, and as cortisol drops, energy drops along with it.
According to research, skipping meals increases the likelihood of overeating later in the day.
Changes in Insulin Sensitivity
Eating earlier in the day is linked to improved insulin sensitivity. When the first meal is delayed, the body's efficiency in handling carbohydrates decreases.
According to research, consuming calories earlier in the day rather than at night is linked to better blood sugar control and shorter periods of elevated glucose.
Stimulation of Hunger Hormones
According to studies, skipping breakfast stimulates hunger and appetite hormones, making it harder to make balanced food choices later in the day.
Research confirms that ghrelin, the hunger hormone, rises when meals are skipped, increasing cravings for quick foods like refined carbohydrates, which leads to a significant spike in blood sugar.
A Variable Effect
The body's response to skipping breakfast varies from person to person. Some people feel perfectly stable and carry out their tasks normally despite delaying their first meal, especially if their overall diet is balanced.
However, people with diabetes or prediabetes, those with insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome or blood sugar fluctuations, and even people who tend to overeat after skipping meals, are the groups most at risk of blood sugar disturbances.
