What do doctors say about the habit of eating breakfast and lunch in one meal?

Specialist Doctor 2 Huynh Tan Vu, Day Treatment Unit, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City - Facility 3, said that the trend of "eating breakfast at lunch" or eating breakfast and lunch in one meal is becoming popular, especially among young people and office workers. According to many people, this helps save time, costs and has the effect of losing weight because of "intermittent fasting". However, not everyone is suitable for this method. Skipping breakfast can cause many negative health effects for some people.

Effects on energy and spirit

Breakfast helps re-energize the body after a long night, providing the brain and body with energy for a new day of effective work or study.

"Eating breakfast late can prevent the body from restoring glycogen reserves (the body's energy reserve) after a night of low blood sugar. Along with that, it can make the body feel tired, anxious, restless and unable to concentrate on work or study. Work performance is therefore also significantly reduced," Dr. Vu shared.

Bác sĩ nói gì về thói quen ăn sáng kết hợp trưa trong một bữa?- Ảnh 1. — Eating breakfast late or skipping breakfast can cause hypoglycemia and fatigue.

Increased risk of overeating at other meals

For those who eat breakfast, limiting or even skipping breakfast can help them lose weight. However, for those who eat lunch and dinner, skipping breakfast can cause them to eat more at lunch and dinner and choose unhealthy foods, leading to excess fat accumulation and weight gain.

Increased risk of chronic diseases

Some studies show that skipping breakfast may increase your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.

Nutrient and vitamin deficiencies

A 2014 study on the impact of breakfast on children and adolescents found that people who do not eat breakfast are deficient in vitamin D, vitamin A, calcium, iron and magnesium, phosphorus and zinc, which can lead to insomnia, depression, increased risk of infection... In the long term, it causes poor health and makes you more susceptible to disease.

Bác sĩ nói gì về thói quen ăn sáng kết hợp trưa trong một bữa?- Ảnh 2. — Skipping breakfast and then consuming a large amount of food at noon can cause digestive problems for some people.

Causes digestive problems

Skipping breakfast and then consuming a large amount of food at noon can cause some people to have digestive problems such as acid reflux, stomach pain, stomach ulcers, etc. Skipping breakfast not only makes the body hungry and stressed, but also stimulates the digestive system, causing changes in daily bowel habits, causing diarrhea, nausea or constipation.

In terms of weight loss, according to Dr. Vu, although some people can lose weight by eating only 2 meals a day, this does not guarantee effectiveness and sustainability for everyone. Weight loss depends on many factors, including total calorie intake, food quality, physical activity level and overall lifestyle. If necessary, consult a doctor or nutritionist for a suitable and safe weight loss plan.

Group of people who should absolutely not skip breakfast

According to Dr. Vu, the elderly, those with medical conditions, and those with poor health are often more sensitive to changes in diet, including skipping breakfast. For these groups of people, skipping breakfast improperly can cause more dangers than for healthy people.

For the elderly: Skipping breakfast can lead to a lack of essential nutrients. Feeling more tired and lacking energy, affecting daily activities and quality of life. In addition, the elderly are often susceptible to hypoglycemia. Skipping breakfast can cause low blood sugar levels, causing symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue and even fainting.

For diabetics: People with diabetes need to maintain stable blood sugar levels. Skipping breakfast can cause blood sugar fluctuations, which is dangerous to health.

For people with cardiovascular disease : Skipping breakfast can increase the risk of cardiovascular problems, due to sudden changes in blood sugar and blood pressure levels.

For people with digestive problems , such as stomach ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux, etc., the condition may become worse when skipping breakfast, due to increased stomach acid.

For people with impaired health (weak immune system, debilitated, tired, etc.): People with impaired health need energy and nutrition from breakfast to maintain health and support the recovery process. Skipping breakfast can weaken the immune system, making them more susceptible to infection and illness; fatigue and debility can become worse and reduce the ability to participate in daily activities.

Therefore, for these groups of people, breakfast is very important to provide energy, maintain stable blood sugar levels and ensure adequate nutrition. If you intend to change your diet, you should consult a doctor or nutritionist to ensure safety and effectiveness for your health.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/bac-si-noi-gi-ve-thoi-quen-an-sang-ket-hop-trua-trong-mot-bua-185240614100031334.htm