Skipping meals on a regular basis can cause side effects such as a higher risk of developing diabetes, poor nutrition and changes in the way your body digests food. A recent study has found that a fifth of people regularly skip breakfast or lunch.

When you miss a meal is doesn’t help your diet, it could actually sabotage it. Your metabolism is like a muscle, it needs to be used to keep in good shape. When you don’t eat your metabolism has nothing to do and it may become less responsive next time you eat. So if you regularly miss meals, when you do eat, your body may store the food as fat.

Skipping meals can also affect your blood sugar levels. When you skip a meal your blood sugar drops and this affects the insulin levels in your body. You may notice this affects how you feel, sometimes it can you cause you to feel tired and have no energy.

When you experience a drop in blood sugar you are more likely to eat later on in the day. We also tend to grab quick, unhealthy snacks when we become very hungry. Short terms of a drop in blood sugar can be dizziness and headaches. The long term effect of skipping meals can increase the risk of certain conditions like diabetes.

Your body won’t be able to get all the vitamins and nutrients it requires if you miss meals. The body needs a diet that contains lean meats, a wide range of fruit and vegetables and whole grains to function properly. Some conditions such as strokes and cardiovascular disease can be prevented by eating a healthy diet.

Eating five to seven small meals throughout the day has been proven to help maintain a healthy weight. Try to plan your meals in advance so you don’t end up missing meals when you are in a rush or busy at work. Rather than choosing snacks like junk food when you are in a rush, stock up on healthy snacks. Things like yoghurt, fruit or a handful of nuts, they will keep you going when you don’t have time to stop for a proper meal.