Is it really bad to skip meals?

[Anonymous]

I'm a 19 year old college student, and some days I don't have time to eat because I'm always busy doing work.
Instead of eating, I'll buy a bag of chips and a bottle of soda, or I'll just drink water only (no food).

How bad is this, and what will happen if I continue doing this?

[ShuuGrrl]

NO eating at all? this is bad. however, if you can get at least one square meal in a day (fruits, veggies, meat grains and all that good stuff) if you don't have time to sit down and enjoy this all, pack some of it to go. fruits and veggies are easy transportable snacks. and a burger (homemade preferrably (fry it, freeze it, microwave as needed)) can help you get both the grains and meat you need.
And if you continue, you can and will get sick. not YOU'RE GONNA DiE! type of way. just like a cold because your body doesn't have the tools to fight it. and if you continue after that, it can easily lead to malnutrition, passing out, and constant exhaustion

[BoudyRizk]

It is very bad on the long run to skip meals and it is very unhealthy to replace you lunch/dinner with chips and soda
Your body functions will start to degrade and you will have serious problems
You should have 3 meals and at least one fruit everyday and at least 2 liters of water

Don't skip meals, you are torturing your body

[Asker]

I have very little control over that.
This is the price that comes along with being a college student.

[Asker]

What kind of problems can I develop?

[BoudyRizk]

You could develop stomach ulcer, muscles decomposition, kidney problems
since your body is not having enough resources it will start decomposing the muscles for proteins and decomposing the good body fat for energy and this will ruin your muscles and kidneys
and if you keep on your current regime you will start to lose bones as well since your body will eventually need calcium so it will start decomposing the bones
Not to forget that your immune system could start failing

[Asker]

Well I forgot to mention that I do take calcium and iron supplements, so would that slightly help?

[BoudyRizk]

it might help a little but nothing is like the natural sources

[Asker]

That's true I guess...
I really don't like doing this, but most times I can't control it.

Perhaps packing meals and eating them in between classes can help :))

I'll just have to wake up earlier to do it.

[Asker]

I think I have a stomach ulcer from taking too many NSAID's, but I won't be sure until my appointment with a gastroenterologist this week.
In the meantime, I'm taking Pepcid with milk twice a day, and it works!! ^_^

[Bubblesi]

Replacing meals with junk food is bad. I reccomend you get up a bit early in the mronign and prepare something you can carry in tupperware and eat in few minutes. If you are unwilling to do that, get some slow acting multiprotein shake and mix it with whole milk.

[Anonymous]

I do the same thing, and have done for years. Try not to let it become a habit if you can, but if you keep doing it it's not that bad. I'm still healthy, so it can't be *that* bad. I only skip one meal a day though

[Anonymous]

Skipping mels is fine. But replacing them with garbage (tasty garbage, but garbage) is very unhealthy.