The researchers from University of Minnesota's Project EAT drew their findings from an experiment that involved 2,216 teenagers, whose breakfast habits were observed for five straight years. The analysis of the gathered data revealed that compared to those who did not, students who ate breakfast gained less weight and had lower body mass index.
According to Mark Pereira, study author, the findings seemed to point out that skipping breakfast leads teenagers to reach for the fatty products in the vending machines, or fast food, to compensate for the lack of nutrients.
"Although adolescents may think that skipping breakfast seems like a good way to save on calories, findings suggest the opposite," said Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, Project EAT's principal investigator. "Eating a healthy breakfast may help adolescents avoid overeating later in the day and disrupt unhealthy eating patterns, such as not eating early in the day and eating a lot late in the evening."
The study also showed discrepancies in relation to gender, as initially, girls showed a greater tendency to skip meals compared to boys. However, throughout the five-year observation scientists saw that boys started to miss more meals.
According to Bloomberg, by the end of the study 18.9 percent of boys skipped breakfast, compared to only 13.8 percent of girls.
Although the researchers said the subject needed more study, they were confident that regular breakfast may curb the chances of obesity for a growing teenager.
They also suggested that schools offer healthy breakfasts available to those who need it upon arrival, reported the Pioneer Press.
