The link between skipping breakfast and health problems isn't the same everywhere — it's stronger in some countries than others, probably because of different diets or lifestyles.
Scientific Claim
The association between skipping breakfast and metabolic syndrome is not uniform across all populations, as studies from Korea, Japan, the U.S., and Iran show variability in effect sizes and significance, suggesting cultural, dietary, or genetic modifiers may be involved.
Original Statement
“The included studies were from Korea, Japan, the United States and other places... Subgroup analyses were performed based on the glycemic criterion... Results were inconsistent: two studies identified skipping breakfast as a risk factor for MetS, while the other four found no significant association.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
association
Can only show association/correlation
Assessment Explanation
The claim accurately reflects the heterogeneity reported in the study without implying causation or universal applicability.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (0)
Contradicting (1)
Association of Skipping Breakfast with Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies
This study says skipping breakfast is bad for everyone’s health and increases metabolic syndrome risk, but it doesn’t say whether this is true for some countries more than others — so it doesn’t support the idea that the effect varies by culture or region.