Contrary to popular belief that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, especially for those striving to lose weight, a new study suggests that it may not be true. The findings of the study are published in The BMJ .
There is no good evidence to support the idea that eating breakfast promotes weight loss or that skipping breakfast leads to weight gain, finds a new study.
Wholesome Breakfast Choices for an Ideal Start
Good health and well-being depends on a leisurely breakfast. However, rushing our breakfast on account of work commitments is the biggest mistake we make.
Advertisement
‘Skipping breakfast Vs. Eating breakfast: A new study suggests that there is no clear evidence to support the idea that eating breakfast improves weight loss or that skipping breakfast leads to weight gain.’
Read More..
Tweet it Now
Read More..
In fact, the findings show that daily calorie intake was higher in people eating breakfast and that skipping breakfast does not cause greater appetite later in the day.
The researchers stress that the quality of studies was low, so the findings should be interpreted with caution, but say that their review questions the popular recommendation that eating breakfast can help with weight control.
![Why is Food Timing Important for Weight Loss?]( "Why is Food Timing Important for Weight Loss?")
Nutrient timing is knowing when to eat specific nutrients to feel energetic, full and yet not gain unhealthy weight. The 'circadian' rhythm helps to determine best food timing for weight loss.
Previous studies have suggested that eating breakfast is linked with maintaining a healthy weight, but these findings have been observational and possibly reflect an individual's wider healthy lifestyle and food choices.
So a team from Monash University in Melbourne analyzed the effect of regularly eating breakfast on weight change and daily energy intake, based on evidence from 13 randomized controlled trials, mainly in the US and UK, from the last 28 years.
Several trials focused on the relationship between eating or skipping breakfast and changes in body weight, while others looked at the effect of breakfast on daily energy intake.
Participants included habitual/non-habitual breakfast eaters, or both, at a range of body weights who were monitored between 24 hours and 16 weeks.
The researchers found that total daily energy intake was higher in groups who ate breakfast compared with those who skipped it (an average of 260 more calories consumed in a day) regardless of their usual breakfast habits.
And the results showed that those who skipped breakfast were on average 0.44 kg lighter.
The effect of breakfast on weight did not differ between people with a normal weight and those who were overweight.
It has previously been suggested that eating breakfast may help with weight loss because of the efficient burning of calories early in the day preventing overeating later on. But the reviewers found no significant difference in metabolic rates between breakfast eaters and skippers.
And despite common belief, skipping breakfast was not linked to people feeling hungrier in the afternoon - or to differences in energy expenditure.
The authors highlight that because of the varying quality of the studies included, the findings should be interpreted with caution. However, they argue that "currently, the available evidence does not support modifying diets in adults to include the consumption of breakfast as a good strategy to lose weight."
"Although eating breakfast regularly could have other important effects, caution is needed when recommending breakfast for weight loss in adults, as it may have the opposite effect," they conclude.
In a linked opinion piece, Tim Spector, professor of genetic epidemiology at King's College London, says that people have different preferences for when they eat food, which "might suit our unique personal metabolism.
"No 'one size fits all,' and prescriptive slow moving diet guidelines filled with erroneous information look increasingly counterproductive and detract from important health messages. While waiting for guidelines to change, no harm can be done in trying out your own personal experiments in skipping breakfast," he concludes.
Source: Eurekalert
Why is Food Timing Important for Weight Loss?
Nutrient timing is knowing when to eat specific nutrients to feel energetic, full and yet not gain unhealthy weight. The 'circadian' rhythm helps to determine best food timing for weight loss.
Advertisement
Previous studies have suggested that eating breakfast is linked with maintaining a healthy weight, but these findings have been observational and possibly reflect an individual's wider healthy lifestyle and food choices.
So a team from Monash University in Melbourne analyzed the effect of regularly eating breakfast on weight change and daily energy intake, based on evidence from 13 randomized controlled trials, mainly in the US and UK, from the last 28 years.
Several trials focused on the relationship between eating or skipping breakfast and changes in body weight, while others looked at the effect of breakfast on daily energy intake.
Participants included habitual/non-habitual breakfast eaters, or both, at a range of body weights who were monitored between 24 hours and 16 weeks.
The researchers found that total daily energy intake was higher in groups who ate breakfast compared with those who skipped it (an average of 260 more calories consumed in a day) regardless of their usual breakfast habits.
And the results showed that those who skipped breakfast were on average 0.44 kg lighter.
The effect of breakfast on weight did not differ between people with a normal weight and those who were overweight.
It has previously been suggested that eating breakfast may help with weight loss because of the efficient burning of calories early in the day preventing overeating later on. But the reviewers found no significant difference in metabolic rates between breakfast eaters and skippers.
And despite common belief, skipping breakfast was not linked to people feeling hungrier in the afternoon - or to differences in energy expenditure.
The authors highlight that because of the varying quality of the studies included, the findings should be interpreted with caution. However, they argue that "currently, the available evidence does not support modifying diets in adults to include the consumption of breakfast as a good strategy to lose weight."
"Although eating breakfast regularly could have other important effects, caution is needed when recommending breakfast for weight loss in adults, as it may have the opposite effect," they conclude.
In a linked opinion piece, Tim Spector, professor of genetic epidemiology at King's College London, says that people have different preferences for when they eat food, which "might suit our unique personal metabolism.
"No 'one size fits all,' and prescriptive slow moving diet guidelines filled with erroneous information look increasingly counterproductive and detract from important health messages. While waiting for guidelines to change, no harm can be done in trying out your own personal experiments in skipping breakfast," he concludes.
Source: Eurekalert
Drinking Milk at Breakfast can Lower Diabetes, Obesity Risk
Consuming high-protein milk in the morning along with your breakfast cereal can slow digestion, lower blood sugar levels and improves satiety (feeling of fullness) at lunchtime. This dietary strategy can help reduce diabetes and obesity burden.
Advertisement
 Having Late Breakfast Can Put You At Risk of ObesityAn evening person with type 2 diabetes who has late breakfast might have a higher Body Mass Index (BMI), which can eventually lead to overweight and obesity, reveals a new study. | Advertisement
|
Advertisement
Recommended Reading
Latest Diet & Nutrition News
Scientists have found that high consumption of a common artificial sweetener, sucralose, dampen the immune response using a mice study.
For people posting food images on social media platform like Instagram, adding warm tones like red, yellow and orange can make healthy food images more eye-catching on social media
How to meet dietary needs in long-term care homes? Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help you.
Adding plant food sources to your diet and avoiding too much alcohol, salt, or sodium consumption can save you from chronic diseases.
Eating peanuts and peanut butter rich in polyphenols can improve vascular health in youngsters and healthy people.