Want to lose weight? Don’t skip breakfast

You’ve always heard breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

Well, studies now show that eating breakfast might do more than just give you extra energy. Eating breakfast can also help you lose weight.

Researchers studied 52 overweight women ages 18 to 55 and assigned then to a weight-loss program for 12 weeks. They were divided into two groups. One was the no-breakfast group who ate only two meals a day, and the other was the breakfast group who ate three meals a day.

The results of the study showed that those who ate breakfast had a lower fat intake and a higher carbohydrate intake than those who did not eat breakfast.

Another advantage was the breakfast eaters ate fewer impulsive snacks and reduced the fats and calories that are associated with them, according to the report. Apparently, eating breakfast helps reduce impulsive snacking throughout the day and, therefore, can play a major role in weight loss.

Nutrition experts recommend breakfast as a vital part of a healthy diet. But despite this good advice, 24 percent of women ages 25 to 34 routinely skip breakfast.

Some people believe that not eating breakfast will help them lose weight because their calorie intake is less.

On the contrary, scientists say, eating breakfast helps to keep you from overeating throughout the day. Eating breakfast is also linked to improved strength and endurance, better attitudes in work and school, constant blood-sugar levels and hunger prevention.

Apparently, people who eat breakfast (especially ready-to-eat cereals) benefit from a more adequate supply of nutrients, lower amounts of calories from fat and higher intakes of fiber.

Skipping breakfast appears to be associated with overeating at other meals or increased between-meal snacking which, in turn tend to increase your overall intake of calories and can cause you to gain weight.

If you are trying to lose weight, breakfast might be your best friend. Researchers recommend that you include a low-fat, high-carbohydrate breakfast as part of your weight-loss program.

This might include whole-grain cereals with skim milk, bagels or English muffins.

MEDICAL SOURCE: The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (55,3:645)