Skipping breakfast 4 to 5 times per week increases the risk of type 2 diabetes up to 55%.
In the research published in the Journal of Nutrition, German researchers concluded, based on existing studies that skipping breakfast is associated with high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The researchers looked at data from more than 96000 people, from 6 different studies and observed that skipping breakfast once a week is associated with 6% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. With skipping breakfast 4 to 5 times per week, the risk increases to as high as 55%.
It isn’t surprising to dieticians that skipping breakfast could also lead to an increased risk, due to the long-known link between type 2 diabetes, blood sugar, and insulin.
Jeena Freedman Scudder, a dietician at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center suggested that skipping morning meals can lead to more insulin resistance. She explained that insulin resistance is a condition requiring more insulin to bring blood sugar into the normal range and when it gets chronic, it becomes a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
“Eating a breakfast of high fibre, complex carbohydrates and protein is best. It can help you kick-start your day, give you energy, satisfy your appetite, and set the stage for healthy eating all day long,” she quoted.
Polls in the US suggest that 53% of Americans skip breakfast once a week and around 12% don’t eat breakfast at all. A prime reason for people not having breakfast is the lack of time. Why compromise with health! Oatmeal and eggs can prove to be a hearty and a fast breakfast.
