Foreign Related Literature

People often miss meals because they get busy or are trying to lose weight. But
how you skip meals, and the amount you eat at your next meal, can affect not only your
overall health, but also your ability to comprehend.

According to Pope (2007). “The scientific data on skipping meals has been
confusing. In some studies, fasting has resulted in measurable metabolic benefits for
obese people, and in animal studies, intermittent feeding and fasting reduces the
incidence of diabetes and improves certain indicators of cardiovascular health. Even so,
several observational studies and short-term experiments have suggested an
association between meal skipping and poor health.”

Skipping meals has been considered to be a way of losing weight for some
people. It may have metabolic benefits for obese people and for some animals but for
students, it may not be a beneficial for it only reduces their ability to figure out lessons
and in some cases, become tardy.

According to Wilhelm (2017), “Mental concentration is also impaired by skipping

meals. Without food in the body, there isn’t any glucose to absorb. Glucose is the
primary energy source for the brain and central nervous system. Without glucose,
memory, focus and concentration are impaired. Moreover, the risk of Type 2 diabetes
increases. Those who skip meals and eat more in one sitting, have higher blood sugar
levels and insulin responses. This puts these individuals at a greater risk for Type 2
diabetes than those who eat meals regularly. Other potential health risks can include
dizziness, fatigue, bone loss and decreased immunity,"

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) "Hunger due to insufficient
food intake is associated with lower grades, higher rates of absenteeism, repeating a
grade, and the inability to focus among students. Such studies show that eating
breakfast and lunch is vital to student performance. A student who hasn't eaten for eight
hours is likely to perform at a lower level in class than a student who has already eaten."

A study by Cardiff University in 2015 suggested that compared to those who start
learning on an empty stomach, children who eat breakfast before school are twice as
likely to score highly on tests and assessments. This, in turn, affects all aspects of
complete student development; it all starts with the proper intake of nutrients. Nutrition
deficiencies affect cognitive development and can have long term-negative effects.

In summary, the foreign studies collected by the researchers shows both the metabolic
benefits of skipping meals and also its disadvantages, especially to the students.

Local Related Literature

“Looking closely at the breakfast habits of consumers in the Philippines. The

survey found that 84 percent of respondents do make it a priority to eat their first and
most important meal of the day at home, with 67 percent doing so within one to two
hours of waking. The rest would just grab their breakfast either at work (10 percent) or
on the way to work (4 percent). Only 2 percent of Filipinos do not eat breakfast.” –
Herbalife Nutrition’s Asia Pacific Healthy Breakfast Survey

As breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day, it is one of the meals
that greatly affect the performances of people. The survey says that 2% of Filipinos do
not eat breakfast. Even though the portion is quite small, skipping meals affect their
daily living.

Monday stated that “People who skip breakfast or eat poorly to start the day are
twice as likely to develop hardened arteries, which can lead to deadly heart disease,
researchers”.

In the statement, it discusses that skipping meals also have a pessimistic effect
on a human being’s body. It can cause cardiovascular diseases which can affect one’s
personal health.

Overall, these local studies state the amount of people skipping meals on a daily
basis. It also states the effects of skipping meals to the personal health of an individual.

Related Studies

“Breakfast skipping is highly prevalent in the United States and Europe (10% to
30% ), depending on age group, population, and definition. Although the quality of
breakfast was variable within and between studies, children who reported eating
breakfast on a consistent basis tended to have superior nutritional profiles than their
breakfast-skipping peers. Rampersaud (2005)

According to Moy (2009). “The prevalence of breakfast skipping among he

undergraduates of a public university in Kuala Lumpur was moderately high. Health
awareness campaigns or introduction of healthy eating guidelines should be initiated for
the undergraduates as well as food caterers in campus. The policy and pricing of
catered food in campus should also be reviewed.”

Based on Basch’s study. Breakfast and the Achievement Gap Among Urban
Minority Youth, it stated that “On an average day, less than half (--46%) of children
participating in free or reduced-price lunch also participated in the School Breakfast
Program for which they were also eligible. In a large study of 9- year-olds, 77% of White
girls and 57% of Black girls consumed breakfast on all 3 days assessed: by age 19, the
respective rates were 32% and 22%. Neuroscience research has identified the
processes by which dietary behavior influences neuronal activity and synaptic plasticity,
both of which influence cognitive functions. Skipping breakfast is highly and
disproportionately prevalent among school-aged urban minority youth, has a negative
impact on academic achievement by adversely affecting cognition and absenteeism,
and effective practices are available for schools to address this problem."
 These studies collected by the researchers state that skipping meals are
prevalent in such countries and are highly affected by certain factors. It also stated that
breakfast is one of the most frequently skipped meals by students