Association of Skipping Breakfast with Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.

Objective: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents a growing and significant public health burden worldwide. The evidence regarding whether skipping breakfast affects the development of MetS and its components remains inconsistent and uncertain. This study aimed to synthesize the best available evidence regarding the association between skipping breakfast and the risk of MetS and its components. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. We systematically searched the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases from inception until May 2025. Two reviewers independently screened titles/abstracts and full texts, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias. This review included cross-sectional and cohort studies on the association between breakfast skipping and the risk of MetS and its components. Results: Nine studies were included after quality evaluation by NOS. Pooled results from the meta-analysis revealed that skipping breakfast was significantly associated with an increased risk of MetS (OR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.04-1.17) and its components-namely abdominal obesity (OR = 1.17, 95% CI 1.01-1.34), hypertension (OR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.10-1.32), hyperlipidemia (OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.04-1.23), and hyperglycemia (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.16-1.37). Conclusions: The meta-analysis demonstrated that skipping breakfast was significantly associated with an increased risk of MetS and its key components-abdominal obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia. These findings highlight regular breakfast consumption as a potential modifiable factor for preventing and managing MetS and related cardiometabolic diseases.