• Sujoy Tontubay
• Yashwanth V
• Gouri Thilakan
• Arya Duth
• K. Darshini, Sai Neelima Mahadas

Abstract Meal skipping, influenced by dieting fads, busy lifestyles, and intermittent fasting, has broad implications for metabolic health, appetite regulation, and risks of obesity and diabetes. This study will comprehensively evaluate the association between meal-skipping behaviors and associated weight variations in adults between ages 18 and 50 years. Based on six primary research objectives, the study explores the patterns and trends of meal skipping, perceived weight outcomes, underlying physiological and behavioral mechanisms, confounding factors, impacts on general health, and the implications for public health policy programs. A total of 100 participants were engaged in a study using an instrument of a questionnaire, designed to obtain quantitative and qualitative data regarding how frequently meals were skipped, why they were skipped, compensatory behaviors practiced if any, and their effects on health. Breakfast has become the most frequently skipped meal, mainly because of lack of time, pressures of work or school, and not feeling hungry enough. Common compensatory behaviors included overeating and snacking on high-fat or carbohydrate-laden food and its metabolic consequences. Weight fluctuations differed; some participants did indeed experience unplanned weight loss from calorie deficits while others reported weight gain along with compensatory eating and diminished metabolism. These range from fatigue, headaches, and a general lack of energy to difficulties with concentration, especially among the young adult age group of 18 to 25. Intermittent fasting proved variably effective and with limited long-term sustainability. Most importantly, the study illustrates the disparity between assumed benefits of meal skipping and actual health outcomes. The study identifies a need for educational interventions promoting consistent, balanced nutrition and healthier compensatory behaviors that can reduce the negative metabolic, energetic, and cognitive consequences of meal skipping. Such findings aim to inform dietary recommendations and public health policies to support stable weight management and overall well-being.

Meal skipping, dietary behaviors, intermittent fasting, dieting trends, busy lifestyles, metabolic health, appetite regulation, obesity risk, diabetes risk, weight variation, compensatory eating, overeating, snacking habits, breakfast skipping, energy imbalance, calorie deficit, weight gain, weight loss, metabolic consequences, fatigue, headaches, reduced concentration, young adults, nutritional awareness, behavioral mechanisms, confounding factors, health outcomes, public health policy, balanced nutrition, sustainable eating patterns.

"A Comprehensive Investigation of Meal-Skipping Habits and Weight Changes in Adults", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 12, page no.b92-b98, December-2025, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2512114.pdf

"A Comprehensive Investigation of Meal-Skipping Habits and Weight Changes in Adults", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 12, page no. ppb92-b98, December-2025, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2512114.pdf