Why skipping breakfast is dangerous for teenagers: Expert explains health risks

Skipping the first meal of the day may seem harmless for teens, but experts warn it can harm growth, immunity, and academic performance. (Image: Pexels)

It is said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day—and with good reason. After a long period of fasting during sleep, it provides nourishment that sets the metabolism in action and delivers essential nutrients the body needs for energy and growth.

However, over the last few decades, many — if not most — teenagers have begun to skip the first meal of the day, citing reasons such as being ‘too busy’ to have breakfast, ‘too fat’ to eat breakfast and ‘not hungry’ enough to have breakfast.

While it may seem like a harmless habit, regularly skipping breakfast during this critical stage of physical and mental development can lead to serious health issues.

This is a time of rapid physical and mental development, and teenagers need steady doses of nutrients. Skipping breakfast may throw off blood sugar, deplete energy, and create problems with focus and mood. This pattern might eventually cause a shortage of nutrients in your system, changes in your weight, and/or metabolic problems in the long run.

Dr Neha Kapoor, Pediatric Nutrition Specialist and founder of Ped Feed, talks about the complexities of skipping breakfast in teens and why a meal at the beginning of the day is important for their overall health and academic success.

Breakfast provides key nutrients such as fibre, protein, iron, and calcium. Skipping it often leads to deficiencies that affect growth, immunity, and overall health.

The brain relies heavily on glucose for energy. If you skip breakfast, the level of glucose supply to the brain will decrease, resulting in problems with concentration, memory and learning.

Teenagers who skip breakfast are more likely to feel sluggish and lethargic, affecting productivity and daily activities and productivity throughout the day.

Those who skip breakfast are likely to indulge in more than unhealthy snacks later, which may lead to increased weight and BMI.

Low blood sugar caused by prolonged fasting can trigger anxiety, irritability, and even anger, affecting social and emotional well-being.

Skipping breakfast may interfere with the regulation of insulin and appetite hormones, increasing the risk of insulin resistance and metabolic issues.

An inadequate amount of nutrients received during breakfast leads to an impaired immune system and a high rate of infections among youngsters.

Skipping breakfast regularly is linked with diabetes, high cholesterol and cardiovascular diseases in later life.