Biorhythm changes and lipid metabolism
Skipping breakfast can affect the "biological clock" in the body - which is used to coordinate the body's time of eating, sleeping, recovering and metabolizing nutrients. A 2025 review in EFood shows that eating time plays an important role in maintaining circadian rhythm balance; eating slowly or skipping meals can change the body's "biological clock".
" Biological watches" help regulate lipid metabolism, including both genes and enzymes responsible for processing cholesterol. When this circadian rhythm is interrupted, the body may be less effective in controlling LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol).
Can lead to hormonal changes that result in overeating
Skipping breakfast often leads to prolonged fasting in the morning, which can change hormones that regulate appetite and energy balance such as leptin and ghrelin. These changes increase hunger signals while reducing satiety signals, making it more difficult to resist foods rich in carbohydrates or fat later in the day.
Can silently reduce the quality of the overall diet
Meals later in the day are likely to contain a lot of saturated fat and refined carbohydrates - diets that are known to increase the formation of LDL particles and reduce the protective effect of HDL cholesterol. Skipping breakfast can also reduce the amount of whole grains, a source of fiber, minerals, and high-quality carbohydrates taken in.
