Intermittent fasting has become one of the most popular fitness trends today. Many people skip meals, especially breakfast, believing it helps them lose weight and improve digestion. The method — often shared widely on social media — involves going without food for specific hours or even days. However, new research suggests that this habit might be doing more harm than good.

What Is Intermittent Fasting?
Intermittent fasting (IF) is a dietary pattern where individuals alternate between periods of eating and fasting. The most common version is the 16:8 method, which involves fasting for 16 hours and eating during an 8-hour window. Another popular approach is the 5:2 plan, where people eat normally for five days and restrict calories for two days a week. While IF is often promoted for weight loss and better metabolism, skipping breakfast — a common feature of IF — may have hidden health risks.

What the Study Reveals
A study published in the journal Nutrients warns that regularly skipping breakfast can negatively affect overall health. Researchers found that people who frequently miss breakfast are more likely to develop metabolic syndrome, a condition linked to obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and increased blood sugar levels — all of which elevate the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Increased Risk of Health Issues
The study analyzed data from over 118,000 participants across nine countries, including the US, Japan, Brazil, and South Korea. The findings showed that skipping breakfast is linked with:

• 10% higher risk of metabolic syndrome

• 17% higher risk of abdominal fat buildup

• 21% higher risk of high blood pressure

• 13% higher risk of cholesterol imbalance

• 26% higher risk of elevated blood sugar

Why Breakfast Matters
Experts explain that the time gap between dinner and breakfast is already long enough for the body to rest and reset. Skipping breakfast further extends this fasting period, which can disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm and insulin sensitivity. Over time, this can lead to poor sugar regulation, fatigue, and metabolic imbalances.