Breakfast: To Skip, or Not to Skip?

Many students in South Korea skip breakfast before school starts. They tend to lack enough sleep due to their heavy school work, so they often decide to have a few more minutes of sleep instead of eating breakfast in the morning. It is recently a grave concern that such a phenomenon can negatively affect their health.

To begin with, consistently skipping breakfast may lead the students to gain all kinds of diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and ulcers. According to Alice F. Walton of Fortune Magazine, men who skip breakfast have a higher risk of heart attack or death. They also can suffer from low glucose in their blood, causing mood swings and headaches.

Moreover, a freelance nutritionist, Ji Yeon Kim, said that "If you keep skipping your breakfast, it may cause an imbalance of nutrition for people such as losing essential vitamins and amino acids." On top of illness, another potential side effect is gaining unnecessary weight. Ms. Kim also stated that "People may overeat their lunch after missing their breakfast, and it can cause obesity."

Joo Dol Lee, a high school student in Seoul, said, "I sometimes feel dizzy when I miss my breakfast, but it is always hard for me to eat because I need more sleep. I think my friends feel the same way." From this, it is noticeable that many students cannot change their habits easily even if they are aware of the harmful effects.

Based on the aforementioned facts, students should manage their time efficiently and go to bed early to have a refreshed next morning.

Although many students regard skipping breakfast as a trivial matter, it actually could cause serious damage in the long run. No one should underestimate this issue.

Chan Yoo Sohn, Grade 9

Chadwick International School