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New Study: Eating Breakfast More Frequently Means Lower BMI

Sadly, it is not news that the number of overweight and obese individuals in the US is at an all time high. There has been an alarming increase in the prevalence of overweight children and teens in the last two decades—figures have doubled for the number of overweight children and tripled for adolescents.1 This data has motivated dietitians and researchers to evaluate the dietary and lifestyle patterns that may contribute to the problem in an effort to halt this trend. Identifying the variables that predict an increase in body weight helps healthcare professionals to find simple, easy-to-manage solutions to this growing problem. The latest potential contributor to the problem turned out to be a predictor of body weight as well as a simple solution: breakfast.

Breakfast Benefits

A nutritional breakfast has always been a recommendation for our daily lives. Whether it’s to increase whole grain consumption, boost nutrient intake, stave off mid-morning hunger or just to help with morning moodiness, breakfast always makes the top ten list for the eating well “to-do’s”. These breakfast benefits are proven from studies that have shown improvements in diet quality, appetite control and a variety of metabolic mechanisms from breakfast consumption.1 Although these benefits suggest that without breakfast, body weight may be adversely affected, there hasn’t been sufficient evidence - until now.

Did you eat breakfast?

Scientists from the University of Minnesota released their findings from a 5-year prospective analysis of teens and “tweens” in the April 2008 issue of Pediatrics. Project EAT (Eating Among Teens) began with 4746 students during the 1998-1999 school year in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. Kids were given a 221-item survey as well as the Youth and Adolescent Food Frequency Questionnaire from which anthropometric data was collected. Among these assessment tools, teens were asked how many days they had eaten breakfast in the past week. After five years, 2216 students were re-surveyed to assess changes in eating patterns and weight status.

Breakfast and BMI

The researchers found that frequency of eating breakfast was positively correlated with several factors, including overall intake of carbohydrate and fiber, socioeconomic status, race and physical activity. On the flipside, abstaining from a morning meal was associated with smoking and alcohol consumption, as well as dieting and weight-control behaviors. Despite these relationships, when the variables were teased out, breakfast frequency was independently associated with body mass index (BMI). In fact, breakfast frequency was related to BMI in a dose-response manner—the fewer times the student ate breakfast, the higher the BMI.

Wake up and Eat!

With this evidence hot off the press, the push for breakfast should apply to kids and grown-ups alike. These Minnesota researchers note that schools should provide healthy breakfast options for kids with whole grains, low fat dairy and fresh fruit. With dietitians continuing to encourage patients and parents to find easy, healthy options for breakfast, a simple nutritious morning meal may help slow the prevalence of obesity in the US.
Looking for a new breakfast idea? Try a Southwest Breakfast Skillet! Visit www.mrsdash.com for the complete recipe and nutritional profile.
For the complete research article, visit www.pediatrics.org.

Reference
Timlin, MT., et al. Breakfast Eating and Weight Change in a 5-Year Prospective Analysis of Adolescents: Project EAT (Eating Among Teens). Pediatrics. 2008;121(3): e638-e645.

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