Intermittent fasting: Should you skip breakfast?
Can intermittent fasting really help you lose weight? Let’s take a look at the possible advantages, or lack thereof, of skipping the most important meal of the day.
Whatever else our views may differ on, we can all agree that eating food is the prime cause of calorie intake. And excess calories are sure to get stored inside the body as fat, causing weight gain. Unwanted weight gain? Never good news.
Shedding the extra weight can be trying and, at times, downright difficult. However, many believe that intermittent fasting holds the key to easy and healthy weight loss.
What is intermittent fasting?
Intermittent fasting is a diet pattern that involves a fasting period followed by a non-fasting one. During the fasting period, you are supposed to either completely refrain from eating or strictly limit your food intake.
There are various ways you can carry out intermittent fasting. The most common method is following the 16:8 diet, where you fast for 16 hours and eat during an 8-hour interval. In other words, you will be skipping breakfast and eating lunch and dinner.
What are the benefits of skipping breakfast?
The short answer: there are no substantial benefits. In fact, there are no advantages to skipping any meals, be it breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Experts and dieticians always recommend a balanced eating regimen throughout the day. It has been suggested time and again that eating consistently will help keep blood sugar and energy levels at a recommended optimum.
Possible health risks of intermittent fasting
While there may not be any significant gains from skipping breakfast (or other meals), there definitely are several hazardous drawbacks from the practice.
Diminished cognitive function
Numerous studies have connected healthy breakfasts to improved cognitive function and good short-term memory. It has been suggested that skipping breakfasts in the morning will hamper your concentration and slow down your ability to remember information. This can be especially detrimental for teenagers and young adults.
Risk of diabetes
Eating a balanced breakfast contributes to ideal blood sugar levels and steady insulin secretion. A full night’s rest means you have already fasted during your sleep. It is important that you eat breakfast, even if it is something light. Your body’s energy and glycogen will be restored after a morning meal. Regularly skipping breakfasts will result in low blood sugar levels and unstable spikes after meals. In the long run, this can become the cause of developing type 2 diabetes.
Adverse weight management
As discussed briefly at the beginning of this article, one of the chief reasons many take up intermittent fasting is to lose weight. However, there is a chance that adopting this diet regime might just give you the opposite result.
Studies indicate that there may be a link between skipping breakfast and unwanted weight gain. Dieticians recommend eating balanced meals and snacks every four hours for a smooth working metabolism. It is especially important to eat a nutritional breakfast in the morning after a night of ‘fasting’. A healthy metabolism is critical in keeping your weight in check.
Moreover, skipping the morning meal can put us in the mind of guilt-free dining later in the day. This can ultimately lead to a bad habit of unhealthy and uneven eating patterns. When our bodies get used to the cycle of starving followed by overindulgence, they are bound to store up excess calories for the fasting periods, ultimately resulting in an unnecessary increase in weight.
Conversely, other studies have claimed that eating or skipping breakfast ultimately has no ties to weight gain or loss.
If you are serious about trying out intermittent fasting or are actively practising it, we would strongly urge you to consult with a dietician and be sure if that is the correct route for you.
While we at VIVO Body Studio are of the opinion that there are no shortcuts to healthy living or alternatives to a balanced diet, we also believe that everyone needs the occasional help. VIVO Body Studio’s Cryolipolysis (fat freeze) treatment is perfect for people struggling with adamant areas of fat in the abdomen, chin, or other parts of the body.
Related Articles
The Best Fitness Trackers
Which fitness tracker is right for you? We live in a society that is becoming ever more obsessed with health...How much tea is too much tea?
Drinking tea offers numerous health benefits, paired with a few adverse effects as well. We take a look at how...The pros of eating chocolate
Read about the surprising number of health benefits that you can attain simply from enjoying a little chocolate. Over the...Does the Atkins Diet Really Work?
How effective is the Atkins diet? With hundreds of weight loss plans available, it's difficult to choose one that best...International Men’s Day: Why Is It Important?
*TRIGGER WARNING: This article covers issues related to mental health such as suicide.* International Men's Day takes place on 19th November every...Is Eyelid Surgery Right for You?
In this two-part article, we explore the circumstances which may require eyelid surgery (Blepharoplasty), the benefits/drawbacks of surgery and the alternatives...It’s Time To Embrace Hair Loss, and Take Action!
Although there is not necessarily a stigma attached to hair loss, many people find it incredibly difficult to talk about. This...What Are the Risks of Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation?
Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation is thought to be a solution to the looseness of the vagina. A lack of tightness in...Natural Remedies to Stop Hair Loss
We all want a full head of hair. Sometimes hair loss can be genetic, but pollution, stress, and chemicals can significantly damage the...Alternatives to Blepharoplasty Surgery
Sometimes, eyelid surgery (Blepharoplasty) is medically necessary. For instance, doctors may recommend it to those with superior visual field loss...Nicotine Replacement Therapy: Does it work?
We take a brief look at the types and effectiveness of Nicotine Replacement Therapy and how the skin benefits from...How to prevent skin damage in the winter
The festive season of baubles, presents, and merrymaking may be the worst for your skin, but it does not have...Happy Customers So far I had 2 sessions with Sapphire. She is a wonderful consultant. Friendly and professional. Very knowledgeable in the work she does.Definitely I would recommend Sapphire. I have booked more treatments with her. First time explained very well in detail by Shaymma would definitely recommend. First time for me to have fat freezing done . I recently had a treatment in Birmingham with Sandra. Sandra was fabulous and very professional, she talked me through my facial and answered all questions i had. The clinic was very clean with high standards, very friendly and welcoming. I would not hesitate recommending this VIVO Clinic.
Great value, great consultants and very professional. I can't speak highly enough of the service and professionalism I received today from Rebecca. The entire experience, from the moment I walked in, was fantastic.Rebecca was friendly and efficient, and was not only knowledgeable but also took the time to address all my questions and concerns. I was treated by Tini, There was plenty of information she was amazing, she was so knowledgable and very easy to talk to , I was so relaxed I really enjoyed my time there . I even had a discount on the last min treatment ( vaginal tightening ) Highly recommend to anyone. Thank you Vivo I am delighted with the exceptional service and care provided today at Vivo Clinic in Glasgow. Taylor, a highly skilled and experienced consultant, attended to me. She adeptly elucidated the procedures step by step, ensuring my comfort throughout the process. thank you
I was treated by Rebecca in Belfast. As always, she was friendly, patient, informative, and helpful. She took great care to make me feel comfortable throughout and I would absolutely recommend her. There was plenty of information and lots of contact beforehand, my appointment was dead on time and the I was really put at ease, Iwish I could remember the lady’s name. Because she was amazing, she was so knowledgable and very easy to talk to , the clinic was spotless clean, modern and looked extremely high tech. I was so relaxed I really enjoyed my time there and have booked in another session. Highly recommend to anyone Thankyou vivo Been using Vivo clinic for a while and just wanted to mention the level of service provided from Tash is unbelievable. Sometimes its not the product you come back for its the level of service. Tash has always been brilliant and goes the extra mile each time. Credit to the company!
Great value, great consultants and very professional.