It has been reported that reducing the number of calories you eat at breakfast will help to improve your overall daily energy balance. The study, published in the Nutrition Journal (www.nutritionj.com) was trying to determine whether there is truth in the belief that eating a large breakfast will lead to a lower calorie intake through the rest of the day.
Reducing your full English breakfast calorie intake
The study was conducted by a group from the University of Munich and followed nearly 400 normal and obese people over a 2 week period. Each participant kept a diary of the type and quantities of each food they consumed. Some subjects ate large breakfasts, others smaller quantities and others skipped breakfast.
When the results were analysed it was found that the total energy intake throughout the day is directly proportional to the number of breakfast calories you consume. It was also determined that the size of the other meals you consumer after breakfast has little correlation to the amount you eat at breakfast. The only exception being a reduction in the mid-morning snack for one group that was studied. Lead researcher, Dr Volker Schusdziarra, said: "The results of the study showed that people ate the same at lunch and dinner, regardless of what they had for breakfast."
While an overall reduction in calories will generally help a person to lose weight, further studies are required to demonstrate that smaller breakfast will lead to weight loss. However, according to the British Dietetic Association, eating breakfast is important to help maintain a balanced diet.
You should not skip breakfast as those who eat breakfast are less likely to be overweight. Furthermore, missing breakfast can lead to the temptation to snack on other less healthy alternatives through the day.