Ms. Kanikka Malhotra - nutrition and education on diabetes (India) - said that physiologically, skipping breakfast and dinner has a significant impact on metabolism.
Skipping breakfast disrupts the body's morning metabolism, leading to reduced insulin sensitivity, reduced energy expenditure, and a potential metabolic slowdown.
This can lead to compensatory overeating later and impair cognitive function.
Conversely, skipping dinner may result in a longer overnight fasting period, potentially enhancing metabolic autophagy and insulin sensitivity. It may also result in evening energy deficits.
Ms. Kanikka Malhotra noted that when you make a habit of skipping breakfast, it can cause your body to lack energy in the morning, causing fatigue or difficulty concentrating at work.
For people with high energy needs in the morning (such as athletes or people with physically demanding jobs), skipping breakfast may not be a good option.
Meanwhile, if you make a habit of skipping dinner, your body will tend to be less active at night. Eating less in the evening helps reduce calorie intake without consuming much energy.
"Your digestive system also won't have to work too hard at night, which helps your body recover and reduces stress," says Kanikka Malhotra, noting that some people still feel hungry and are prone to unhealthy snacking in the evening or before bed, which can reduce weight control.
Ms Kanikka Malhotra asserts that skipping dinner can be more effective for weight loss because the body has less time to consume and metabolize energy at night. This helps reduce the risk of excess fat accumulation.
But any weight loss process needs to ensure that you still provide enough nutrients needed to maintain your health and fitness.
