Am I damaging my body or gaining weight because I don't eat breakfast?

Question

Hello,

I'm 14 years old and I weigh 120 pounds and I'm 5'5. I don't eat breakfast in the mornings, and my Mom's always like you're starving yourself, and my friends are always telling me that I don't eat enough....... I'm just not hungry in the mornings, I've told my Mom that, but she says I need to keep my body going and jumpstart my metabolisim. I think that maybe she has a point but I don't get hungry, am I going to gain weight or lose weight if I don't eat breakfast? Am I not eating enough. Because sometimes I'll skip lunch as well, I know it's unhealthy but are there any serious risk factors???

Answer 1

There are problems with not eating a healthy breakfast. I know not everyone is able to, or wants to, eat a huge, full-out complete breakfast when they get up in the moning. But you should at least eat something, even if it's just a milkshake with a banana or something thrown in there. There's a reason why it's called "breakfast" b/c you're breaking the fast of not eating since supper the night before. You're body needs some energy to get it going in the morning. So even if you grab a bagel on your way out the door, or a shake of some kind, it's better than nothing.
I'm guessing that you snack a lot during the day right? You may not think that you are, but really keep track of what you eat during the day. Are you really hungry by the time you get home from school? You may start picking when you get in the door, and it's probably not healthy stuff either. And if you are skipping lunch too, that's really not healthy. You will end up malnourished. At least eat something during the day, preferable something healthy that will fill you up, like a pear or banana, a bagel, granola bars. Something with a lot of fiber and nutrients.
Go see your doctor if you're really not hungry and cannot force yourself to eat anything. You may be seriously ill. But you're mom's right, you need something in the morning, even if it's not when you first hop out of bed, just to get some energy to start your day. There are serious risks. You may not gain or lose a lot of weight, but you're body will just not be healthy.

Answer 2

You sound like a great weight! I am 5'6 and weigh just the same. One 120 is good at your height, you don't want to be too thin, and loose the womanly curves that make us who we are. So don't worry about being over weight, Hon. Ive been up to 127 and still looked and felt awesome.

I do eat breakfast every morning. Yes, you do harm your body by not eating. Your body has fasted without food all night, and needs some nourishment to get your day started. Even if your not hungry eat a small something. Try a breakfast bar, yogurt, fruit, and plenty of water. Its true that if you eat a breakfast, you will keep that good weight you need as a woman. Your body wont pig out on the next meals you eat, and store fat as it would if you don't eat breakfast. Skipping lunch is fine, as long as you have eaten a breakfast, and will eat something for dinner.
I did just what you've done for awhile, and started looking unhealthy, weight wise, and didnt feel like I had any energy. I was tired and sometimes grumpy. Especially while still in school, its a crucial thing that you eat in the mornings, you will learn and be less tired in classes. Try eating something small in the mornings, and see the difference right away. You will love it!

Answer 3

Let me explain, you spend at least 8 hrs sleeping, so whatever you ate for diner is already digested, so is the longest period your body goes without food, that's whyit need breakfast everyday and if possible befor 10.00 am, yes you can gain weight by not eating it because whatever you eat next, instead of your body taking just the calories it needs to burn it will take more fat to overcome what it might lose while you waited for brakfast and then more taking precaution.
So, yes, breakfast IS the most important meal of the day, and if you skip it you might gain weight, so do a "sacrifice", eat a banana, an apple on the very least to pump your energy and so your body doesn't suffer

Answer 4

You don't have to eat breakfast, but it is better if you do because you need the energy. If you don't like breakfast, drink a glass of orange juice or apple juice, and eat a banana. I would not suggest skipping lunch. You will become tired and your brain will not work as well. You need to eat "brain food." Apples, oranges, fruits that you enjoy. Your weight right now is a good weight but you should not starve yourself because that does not make you lose weight. Your brain will send a message to your body that you are starving and then you stop burning calories.

You will not gain or lose weight by not eating breakfast. You will burn whatever you eat at breakfast by the time you need to eat lunch. I like to drink V-8 juice because of all the good vitamins it contains.

Answer 5

Every one is differnt! so not sure but i will say an improper diet will cause malnutrition! maybe not so much why you are younger but when your older it can lead to BAD HEalth problems like a cold will last 2 times as long heart issues, so yeah! eating in the moring should help you lose weight if you watch what you eat but again everyone is differnt!
sence your not hungry try eating something light like an apple or a banna,, or something liek a cercial bar.. quick and easy and it will benifit you in the long run!
over all it is your health and when you turn 30 something or even 20 something this will be a consern for you so start building healthy habits now and it won't be so hard when your 30 something! and yoiu have no choicew but to change your eating habits because of some malnutrition effect or health problem!
Mad luv

Answer 6

Just one little factoid to throw at you: People who don't eat breakfast are 450% more likely to be overweight than people who do.

There aren't any serious risk factors in skipping meals as long as you're getting enough to maintain what you have and you're eating a balanced diet. But be warned: You're developing some bad eating habits that could come back to bite you later. Skipping breakfast and lunch and then loading up on dinner is one of the worst things you can do. If your body takes in more calories than it can use at any given time, the extra calories get stored as fat. That's why it's better to eat breakfast and have six small meals/snacks per day than it is to eat three square meals per day. It seems like a lot, but if you start out by getting a little something to eat when your body is signaling you that it needs food (your stomach will grumble) you'll get used to eating six times a day in no time flat.

Just use a little common sense and you'll be fine. Don't make a habit of skipping meals, avoid the "bad for you" stuff as much as possible, and stick mostly to the things you know are good for you like lean meats, fresh fruits/vegetables, whole grains, and lowfat dairy products. Develop good habits now and you'll be much less likely to look in the mirror in ten years and say "Geez, I need to lose 20 pounds!"

Good luck!

Answer 7

It is a good practice to eat breakfast and it is true that it improves metabolism. The reason you might not be hungry is because you might be having a heavy dinner or late night snacks. Avoid that habit. Your body stores more fat during sleep, so it is beneficial if the food intake is tapered as the day progresses.

I have started eating breakfast about 2 years ago and have noticed great improvements in energy and overall health (although there are other factors involved too). A hearty breakfast also prevents you from eating unhealthy food during lunch and dinner

Answer 8

tough

quite a few studies have shown that when you starve your body (like you do in the mornings), what happens is that it reacts to save calories, which could tend to make you gain weight.

furthermore, quite a few people who skip breakfast later feel very hungry say around 10am and then eat a ton of junk food / cereal bars, and this also tends to make them fat, much more than if they had had a healthy breakfast.

Now you are 120 pounds for 5'5'' which seems fine. My wife is 3.5 inches taller and weighs just 5 pounds more but she's very thin. My sister is about 3 inches taller and weighs the same as you, but she's quite thin also - back when she was 18 or so she suffered from anorexia and at one point went down to about 100 pounds and I can tell you this was scary.


Bottom-line? You're 14, your body needs to grow, so it's probably better not to starve it. I did mention my sister's anorexia above because this is a thing that can happen to girls your age, who at some level (generally subconscious) are scared about becoming adults / women and therefore (subconsciously) take the decision to starve their bodies in order to delay / prevent these developments (when my sister was 100 pounds for 5'8'' she had no periods for example, her body didn't have enough reserves to ovulate).

People who know much more about anorexia than I ever will, say that it is often caused by girls not being "at peace" with their mother, and therefore scared to grow and eventually become like her. But such things obviously can't be healed by magic, and outside help (i.e. a therapist) is needed.

Based on your measurements it does not seem at all that you're at this stage - one of the prettiest women in my life was your size, and weighed just 105 pounds, but she was lightly built so she was just perfectly plump where required, not at all a bag of bones (sorry for shocking a 14-year old w such details ;-)

but just be careful w yourself ok?

Answer 9

You should talk to your dr. or a nutritionist. They tell you to eat breakfast for energy and it does get you and your metabolism going. But, you also hear to not eat if you are not hungry. I used to never eat breakfast b'c I was not hungry until lunch time. I did not gain weight b'c of that.

Answer 10

From recent studies, it has been pointed out that people who have a healthy breakfast in the morning are more prone to lose weight faster if they are exercising because the metabolism works faster. You should eat little portions of food every two-three hours. Don't starve yourself. For me eating is a hobby. Just make sure that you exercise an hour or so daily to keep healthy.