Skipping Breakfast and Lack of Sleep Raise Risk of Metabolic Syndrome by Up to 27%

Analysis of the Impact of "Circadian Rhythm Disruption Factors"
in a Study of 16,253 Adults at Samsung Medical Center

A study has found that maintaining unhealthy lifestyle habits?such as frequently skipping breakfast, sleeping less than six hours, and insufficient physical activity?can increase the risk of metabolic syndrome by up to 27%.

According to a report by Yonhap News on June 22, a research team from the Department of Family Medicine at Samsung Medical Center (first author: Lee Sujin) analyzed data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2016 and 2020. The team examined the association between circadian rhythm disruption factors and metabolic syndrome in 16,253 adults and confirmed these findings.

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Metabolic syndrome is a condition in which chronic diseases such as abdominal obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia occur simultaneously. Metabolic syndrome significantly increases the likelihood of developing cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction and angina, as well as stroke, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver, and other chronic diseases. Therefore, prevention and early treatment are crucial.

The research team defined four factors as circadian rhythm disruption factors: irregular breakfast consumption, sleeping less than six hours or more than eight hours, insufficient physical activity, and shift work. They then investigated the relationship between these factors and the onset of metabolic syndrome. Among the 16,253 participants, 5,237 individuals (29.3%) were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. Of those with metabolic syndrome, 2,627 individuals (15.6%) had none of the circadian rhythm disruption factors, 6,406 individuals (38.13%) had one factor, and 7,220 individuals (46.3%) had two or more factors.

Participants with one circadian rhythm disruption factor?such as skipping breakfast, insufficient sleep, lack of physical activity, or shift work?had a 21% higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome compared to those with none of these factors. For those with two or more factors, the risk increased by 27%. When looking at the risk by individual factor, sleeping less than six hours increased the risk by 25%, irregular breakfast consumption by 14%, and insufficient physical activity by 13%.

Yu Junhyun, a professor at Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine and corresponding author of the study, told Yonhap News, "This research confirms that the more factors disrupting circadian rhythms in daily life?meaning, the less regular one's lifestyle?the higher the risk of metabolic syndrome." He added, "Improving lifestyle habits such as getting enough sleep, eating regular meals, and engaging in sufficient physical activity can help reduce the risk of metabolic diseases." The results of this study were published in the English-language international journal of the Korean Academy of Family Medicine, 'KJFM (The Korean Journal of Family Medicine)'.

In addition, to prevent and manage metabolic syndrome, it is necessary to: ▲ reduce sugar and fat intake while frequently eating vegetables, whole grains, and fish; ▲ engage in aerobic and strength exercises for at least 30 minutes, three to five times a week; ▲ lose weight to improve abdominal obesity; ▲ manage stress; and ▲ take medications for blood pressure, blood sugar, or cholesterol when necessary.