Intermittent fasting has adverse effects on health, study claims

Intermittent fasting:  These days, people are adopting various methods to stay fit, the most popular of which is intermittent fasting. This means skipping a meal or going without food or drink for a few hours. Many people make this a part of their daily lives by skipping breakfast. This method is also gaining popularity on social media, and people are following it. People believe that this method is proving to be very helpful in losing weight.

However, a study has shown this method to be harmful to the body. Let's learn all about it. Also Read: Chennai Temples Ready for Soorasamharam 2025: A Grand Devotional Celebration Besides weight loss, it also improves digestion. But is this really true?...because a recent study has found otherwise. This study claims that skipping breakfast has adverse effects on the body. Let's explore this article in detail.

What is intermittent fasting?

Intermittent fasting refers to a fasting pattern in which people skip meals for a few hours or days and consume limited foods. The most popular method is 16:8, meaning 16 hours of fasting and 8 hours of eating. Some people adopt a 5:2 pattern, which means five days of normal eating and two days of a very limited calorie diet. People often adopt this method to lose weight and stay fit, but sometimes skipping breakfast can have adverse effects.

Which diseases are at higher risk?

This study analyzed data from 118,000 participants from nine countries, including Korea, Japan, Iran, Brazil, and the United States. The research found that those who skip breakfast have a 10% higher risk of metabolic syndrome. The risk of belly fat increases by 17%, the risk of high blood pressure by 21%, the risk of blood lipid (cholesterol) disorders by 13%, and the risk of increased blood sugar by 26%. Also Read: How to identify adulteration in roasted chickpeas

How important is eating breakfast?

Many people wonder what's the big deal about skipping breakfast. However, scientists believe that the gap between dinner and breakfast the next day is too long. Therefore, when people skip breakfast, the body's circadian rhythm and insulin sensitivity can be disrupted. This can lead to the body's inability to properly regulate sugar, leading to metabolic disorders.