Author: Alexander Bruni
Time for reading: ~2
minutes
Last Updated:
August 08, 2022
In this article, learn more about Does Breakfast Help Us Keep A Line?. And can a healthy lunch make up for the lost benefits of breakfast?.
Logic shows that in cases where we have not had breakfast, we tend to make up for lost time with lunch. However, it turns out that skipping breakfast can not only not provoke overeating at lunch , but also help to significantly reduce the total caloric intake for the day.
Most experts categorize skipping breakfast as harmful. However, many people today do not eat breakfast, looking for a positive effect, especially on their weight. A study conducted in England shows that such an effect can be achieved.
The study involved 40 girls aged 14-16 years. This age group is selected in view of the fact that the need for calories and energy in adolescence is strongest and skipping one meal should lead to increased caloric intake with the next.
However, the results show just the opposite. It turns out that the total caloric intake on the days when the girls studied miss their breakfast is about 350 calories lower than on the days when they eat breakfast. This means that even a hearty lunch in the first case does not fully compensate for the calories that girls take with their standard breakfast. In cases where weight loss is aimed at , this effect can help lose weight. Contrary to expectations, skipping breakfast did not affect the physical activity of the study participants and did not weaken their energy potential.
Previous studies have shown that skipping breakfast increases the risk of obesity and associated cardiovascular problems . The reason for making such a connection was the fact that the number of people with severe obesity and those who do not eat breakfast regularly is almost the same. Both groups account for about 48% of the world's population.
However, previous studies have not tracked differences in daily caloric intake in cases where a person eats breakfast and skips breakfast. The English study cited above provides specific dimensions to these differences. They show that skipping breakfast not only does not increase the risk of obesity, but can also contribute positively to long-term weight control .
The question remains how healthy this habit is, however, and clarifying the answer requires further research. It should be borne in mind that skipping breakfast requires increasing the intake of all useful and essential nutrients with other meals during the day. If this need is met without excessive calorie intake, the effect of skipping breakfast can be completely positive, especially for people struggling with excess weight.