Although nutritionists, doctors, and parents have advised for years that a nutritious breakfast is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle, many people overlook the morning meal. In fact, a Survey of the NPD group She reported that 1 in 10 Americans do not eat breakfast.
a Review published in November 2018 in Nutrition Journal From the American Dietetic Association contributes to data Finding that breakfast is good for the body. The study suggests that skipping breakfast just one day a week may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 6 percent.
Missing the morning meal four to five days a week raises this risk by 55 percent.
Sabrina Schlesinger, MA, PhDD., chair of the Beginners Systematic Reviews Group at the German Diabetes Center in Dusseldorf, and her colleagues analyzed health information from six different observational studies representing more than 90,000 individuals. Of these, 4,935 people developed diabetes.
Scientists have discovered that the risk of developing diabetes rises with each day of the week that a person misses breakfast until the fifth day, when the risk stabilizes. Overall, the chance of developing type 2 diabetes was 32 percent greater for those who skipped breakfast compared to those who never skipped breakfast.
Related: 8 Surprising Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes
The researchers noted an increased risk of developing diabetes, regardless of a person’s weight
The study authors note that body mass index (BMI) was only partially associated with an increased risk of diabetes in people who skipped breakfast. BMI is a measure of body fat based on weight and height, and a measure of body mass over 30 is considered obese, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Dr. Schlesinger said in press release. Schlesinger was not available for direct comment.
Although she and her colleagues noticed that Obesity is a well-established risk factor for type 2 diabetesJust as obese people are more likely to skip breakfast than people of normal weight, the results indicated that people of any weight who did not eat their morning meal still had a higher likelihood of developing diabetes.
“This is important because most people think that people who don’t eat breakfast are always overweight or obese, and this may be a reason for an increased risk of type 2 diabetes,” Osama Hamdi, MD, PhD, medical director of the Clinical Program on Obesity at Harvard Medical School’s Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, who was not involved in the study. “This research shows that the relationship persists even after adjusting for body weight.”
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Not eating breakfast may be linked to other unhealthy behaviors
The study authors suggest that a higher risk of diabetes in those who skip breakfast may be related to other unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. According to the report, those who skip breakfast are more likely to smoke, have less tendency to exercise, and drink more alcohol.
“People who skip breakfast may also end up eating more total calories throughout the day, which has been demonstrated in many of studies”. A diet rich in calories from any source contributes to weight gain, and being overweight increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, according to According to the American Diabetes Association.
Restroom recommends that people with diabetes eat three to five times per day, every three to five hours throughout the day. Eating regular meals helps maintain blood sugar control.
Other scientific investigations have shown additional benefits of eating a healthy breakfast. that Article published in November 2012 in American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine It is suggested that young adults who eat breakfast regularly tend to make healthier food choices throughout the day and have better weight control than those who do not, reducing their risk of developing diabetes. In addition to that The American Heart Association says Eating breakfast reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
On the other hand, some research, such as evidence in a file Article published in May 2015 in International Journal of ObesityIt was suggested that skipping breakfast may have health benefits as part of an intermittent fasting (IF) program.
“Many of our patients choose intermittent fasting and find they have better glucose control and better weight loss, but combined with an appropriate diet, adequate calorie intake, and lower carbohydrate intake,” says Rystrom. Regardless, more studies are needed to see what benefits it may provide for people at risk for diabetes or otherwise.
Related: Is intermittent fasting safe for diabetics?
What is a healthy breakfast for people with diabetes?
Schlesinger and colleagues write that a diet rich in processed meats and few whole grains is associated with a higher risk of diabetes.
When it comes to recommending a healthy breakfast for people with diabetes, Rystrom suggests very moderate amounts of carbohydrates with protein and lean vegetables, such as scrambled greens with eggs and whole-grain toast, or plain Greek yogurt with blueberries, chopped nuts, and seeds Shea. A bad breakfast for diabetics, she says, is cereal made with refined (not whole) grains, milk, juice and white bread. “This is a breakfast that contains concentrated, highly processed carbohydrates that are guaranteed to cause your blood sugar to spike after the meal,” she says.
Although the review represents a large population, it was limited to including only six investigations from the United States and Asia, says Dr. Hamdi. The research was also limited as an analysis of other studies rather than a direct investigation of the population over time.
“Further studies are needed to clarify not only the mechanisms of eating breakfast regularly, but also the effect of breakfast combination on diabetes risk,” Schlesinger says in the statement. “In principle, a regular, balanced breakfast is recommended for all people – whether or not they have diabetes.”
