Whether cereal directly lends a hand in weight control is unclear, but the study authors speculate that the fiber, vitamins and minerals in many boxed cereals may play a role.
Also unknown is why the potential benefit was limited to women. Among men, neither breakfast cereal nor breakfast consumption in general had an impact on weight, according to Reuters health.
Dr. Won O. Song, of Michigan State University in East Lansing, and her colleagues report the findings in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
The researchers based their findings on results from a national health and nutrition survey conducted by U.S. health officials in 1999-2000.
Among women, those who ate cereal were 30 percent less likely to be overweight than women who skipped breakfast, even when other factors, such as exercise and total calorie intake, were considered.
Despite the result, it's not possible to conclude from this study that cereal, helps in weight control, according to Song and her colleagues.
