Skipping breakfast linked to higher metabolic syndrome risk
Skipping breakfast may increase the risk of metabolic syndrome.
Why it matters
- Skipping breakfast is associated with a higher risk of metabolic syndrome and its components.
By the numbers
- 1.10 odds ratio for MetS with skipping breakfast.
- 9 studies included in the meta-analysis.
The big picture
- Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
- Skipping breakfast may be a modifiable risk factor for MetS.
What they're saying
- Some users question the causation, suggesting correlation instead.
- Criticism about study methodology and potential cherry-picking of results.
- Intermittent fasting might be an exception.
Caveats
- Observational studies can't prove causation.
- Inconsistent definitions of skipping breakfast across studies.
- Other lifestyle factors may not have been adequately controlled.
What’s next
- Further research needed to establish causation.
- More consistent definitions and control for confounding factors in future studies.