Skipping breakfast has no negative impact on cognitive function, according to a large-scale analysis of dozens of studies examining the effects of short-term hunger on brain function the University of Auckland
The meta-analysis looked at more than 70 studies that assessed attention, memory, thinking speed, and concentration. In total, more than 3,000 people participated in the studies, who were compared under normal eating conditions and fasting for 8–24 hours.
The results showed that there was no statistically significant difference in cognitive test scores between these groups. In other words, the brain showed equally stable performance both after and without a morning meal.
The authors explain this by the body's ability to quickly adapt to a temporary lack of calories. In the absence of glucose from food, the body switches to using internal energy reserves, in particular ketone bodies, which are formed during the breakdown of fats. These compounds can effectively provide the brain with energy without reducing mental performance.
Thus, the habit of eating or skipping breakfast is not critical from the point of view of brain function and depends more on individual well-being, daily routine, and personal preferences, rather than on physiological necessity.
At the same time, researchers are paying attention to another aspect of eating behavior - metabolism. It is widely believed that frequent meals in small portions can speed up metabolism, while eating less often can slow it down. In this context, skipping breakfast does not necessarily contribute to weight loss and in some cases can have the opposite effect. Therefore, the issue of morning eating should be considered comprehensively - taking into account the overall diet, lifestyle and individual characteristics of the body.
