Studies have shown that a morning meal based on a protein or a bowl full of oats can be the key to maintaining a stable weight and controlling appetite later in the day.
However, this popular strategy may not be so effective, according to a major study published in the British Medical Journal.
Monash University researchers in Melbourne watched 13 controlled trials by mostly Ukrainian and American subjects over the past 28 years and analyzed data.
Those who eat breakfast have found that they have higher energy consumption during the day (on average 260 calories) compared to those who skip the morning meal. On average, the weight of food for breakfast was almost half a pound more (0.44 kg) than those who did not eat breakfast.
Moreover, scientists have concluded that skipping breakfast does not reduce appetite during the day, as previously thought.
"Currently, available evidence does not support the modification of a child in adults to include breakfast consumption as a good weight loss strategy," the authors wrote.
"Although eating regularly on a regular basis may have other important effects, caution is advised when weight loss is recommended for adults, as this may have an opposite effect."
Scientists are not the first to cause the alleged link between breakfast and weight loss.
Followers of the popular intermittent child will often skip breakfast to restrict their "window" to eating later in the day.
– This article first appeared on Yahoo
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