Weight loss advice to eat big breakfast questioned
11 February 2011
The weight loss advice that dieters should have a substantial breakfast to reduce calorie intake during the day may be flawed, according to German researchers.
A study, involving 280 adults with obesity and 100 people with a healthy weight, found that eating a large breakfast simply added to the number of daily calories consumed (Nutrition Journal 2011; 10: 5).
Based on self-reported eating patterns over a 2-week period, calorie intake after breakfast remained the same irrespective of whether participants consumed a small or large breakfast or even skipped breakfast.
Higher daily calorie intake was associated with consumption of foods often listed on breakfast menus including bread, eggs, yoghurt, cheese, sausages, marmalade and butter. Senior author Dr Volker Schusdziarra, Professor of Internal Medicine at the Technical University in Munich, said the research rebutted common advice to dieters to consume a larger breakfast to decrease daily calorie intake.
Last Reviewed: 14 February 2011
- 1. Schusdziarra V, Hausmann M, Wittke C, et al. Impact of breakfast on daily energy intake - an analysis of absolute versus relative breakfast calories. Nutr J 2011; 10: 5. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-10-5. http://www.nutritionj.com/content/10/1/5 (accessed Feb 2011).
