The harms of skipping dinner and exercising
The harms of exercising without eating dinner include hypoglycemia, irritation of gastric mucosa, increased muscle fatigue, and more.
1. Hypoglycemia
Running consumes energy in the body. If you run without eating, it is easy to cause insufficient energy supply, leading to hypoglycemia. Symptoms such as palpitations, chest tightness, headache, dizziness may occur, and fainting could even happen.
2. Irritation of gastric mucosa
When a person does not eat, the body remains in a fasting state. Running on an empty stomach can, due to excessive physical activity, cause contraction of stomach muscles, resulting in gastric spasms and overproduction of gastric acid. This may irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa and impair normal digestive function.
3. Increased muscle fatigue
Running without eating increases muscle fatigue. During running, muscles need to contract—especially those in the lower limbs—and lactic acid is produced during contraction, which requires sufficient energy supply. Without food intake, the body cannot obtain adequate nutrition, leading to muscle fatigue and pain, thereby reducing physical performance.
It is recommended that individuals appropriately replenish energy before exercising and avoid running while hungry.