Gaby
In the hustle and bustle of modern life, it’s all too easy to skip breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Sometimes, it even feels like a necessity. Meanwhile, researchers from the University of Iowa and the University of Tennessee have found that missing just one of the three standard meals can have serious long-term health consequences.
The research team analyzed data on the eating habits of 24,011 American adults aged 40 and older. This information was collected over 15 years (1999–2014) as part of a large-scale health assessment.
According to the findings of this new study, skipping breakfast is linked to a higher risk of premature death from cardiovascular diseases. In contrast, neglecting lunch or dinner is associated with an increased risk of death from all causes, including the aforementioned cardiovascular issues.
The scientists believe that this risk also applies to those who do eat three times a day but do so at very short intervals. Additionally, the research team identified a potential life-threatening risk for individuals who have only two meals a day with a gap of four and a half hours between them.
The Profile of an Undisciplined Eater
In their latest work, the researchers emphasized the importance of regular breaks to refuel the body, as reported by Science Alert.
According to epidemiologist Yanbo San from the University of Tennessee, people who eat only once a day are more likely to leave this world sooner than those who eat more frequently.
The team created a generalized profile of individuals who eat less than three times a day, which accounted for about 30 percent of the large cohort of participants. So, who is most likely to skip meals? Primarily, these are men in their early 40s, without higher education, from low-income families. They typically smoke, consume alcohol, lack access to nutritious foods, and often rely on snacks. Their bodies receive significantly less energy for functioning than they actually need.
Epidemiologist Wei Bao from the University of Iowa noted that the researchers’ observations make “metabolic sense.” Skipping meals often leads to consuming a larger amount of energy at once, which can disrupt glucose regulation in the body and worsen metabolism.
Recent statistics show that about 59 percent of men and approximately 63 percent of women in the U.S. eat irregularly, failing to have three meals a day. This larger segment of the population is the group that potentially puts themselves at risk by neglecting one or more of their meals.
Of course, there are many excuses for such undisciplined eating habits: continuous hard work, lack of time, financial constraints, and a fascination with diets and fasting. Despite this, the research team strongly urges people to heed the study’s conclusions about the importance of regular meals.
The results of this study were published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
