Dr. Neena Chandrasekaran, a pulmonary and critical care medicine specialist, cautions against the practice of skipping meals, citing the heightened risk of heart attacks and heart disease. In a video posted on TikTok under the username @neenziemd, Dr. Chandrasekaran emphasized the adverse effects of forgoing breakfast and dinner, linking it to an increased likelihood of obesity, hypertension, otosclerosis, and impaired insulin sensitivity.
The doctor explained that the body’s elevated adrenaline levels in the morning can be compounded by fasting, resulting in the production of sympathetic hormones that accelerate heart rate and arterial stiffening. Furthermore, consuming smaller portions throughout the day may lead to overeating during nighttime, potentially contributing to obesity.
Studies have also corroborated these findings, associating the habit of skipping breakfast with heightened cardiovascular disease risk and increased mortality rates. Individuals who regularly skipped breakfast were reported to face a 21% greater risk of cardiovascular events and a 32% heightened risk of all-cause mortality compared to those who regularly consumed breakfast.