Skipping breakfast does not immediately damage the liver. However, prolonged fasting can disrupt metabolism and increase the risk of certain conditions like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or gallstones in individuals with risk factors.

After an overnight fast, the body needs energy to function and maintain stable metabolism. Regularly skipping breakfast often leads to overeating at lunch and later in the day, increasing overall food intake. This simultaneous intake of large amounts of sugar, fat, and energy can cause fat accumulation, insulin resistance, and an increased risk of fatty liver disease.

Doctor Long consults a patient. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital

Certain individuals should not skip breakfast:

Patients with chronic liver diseases, such as hepatitis B, C, fatty liver disease, or cirrhosis, often have poor energy reserves. Prolonged skipping of breakfast can increase the risk of malnutrition and muscle loss, impacting their treatment progress.

People with metabolic syndrome, including obesity, type two diabetes, high blood pressure, or dyslipidemia, should also avoid regularly skipping breakfast. Fasting can disrupt blood sugar control and lead to insulin resistance.

Pregnant women, the elderly, and malnourished individuals need regular, nutritious breakfasts to ensure energy requirements, prevent low blood sugar, and support liver health.

To protect liver health, everyone should maintain a balanced diet and avoid skipping breakfast. If you aim to lose weight, focus on reducing total daily calorie intake rather than extreme fasting. A safe weight loss rate is about 0,5-1 kg per week, ideally under the guidance of a doctor or nutritionist.

Aim to eat breakfast before 9h to stimulate gallbladder contractions, promote better bile flow, and reduce the risk of gallstone formation. If time is limited, opt for simple breakfast choices like boiled eggs, unsweetened milk, yogurt, oatmeal, whole-wheat bread, or nuts.

The Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes green vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, olive oil, and omega-3 rich fish, benefits liver health and supports weight loss. Additionally, limit alcohol, sugary drinks, processed foods, and fried items, as these can increase the risk of fatty liver disease and gallstones.

Individuals at risk of liver disease should undergo regular health check-ups, including liver enzyme tests, blood sugar, and blood lipid levels, to detect metabolic disorders early and establish appropriate treatment and nutrition plans.

Master. Doctor. CKI Doan Hoang Long

Department of Gastroenterology

Center for Endoscopy and Endoscopic Digestive Surgery

Tam Anh General Hospital, TP HCM