A major study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology has found that skipping breakfast is associated with a significantly increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease. The research, which analysed health data from 6,550 adults aged 40 to 75, suggests that missing the morning meal could have serious long-term health consequences.
Participants were followed for up to 23 years, and those who routinely skipped breakfast showed higher rates of obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. The study also linked the habit to an elevated risk of coronary heart disease and stroke.
Dr Lopez-Jimenez of the Mayo Clinic explained that skipping breakfast may trigger a stress response in the body. “Part of it is the high adrenaline state that occurs early in the morning. If you match that with no food, the body says, ‘I could die from starvation,’ and it starts crunching the glands that make adrenaline,” he said.
The researchers concluded that eating breakfast promotes cardiovascular health, noting that breakfast eaters tend to have healthier lifestyles overall. The study adds to a growing body of evidence that breakfast is indeed the most important meal of the day.
