Breakfast, our first meal of the day, is extremely important for the good performance of the human body. It is responsible for replenishing our body after several hours of sleep.
Therefore, it is common for people to wake up hungry, because throughout the night the body works and expends energy to maintain basic functions, such as blood circulation, heartbeat and breathing, for example.
However, the act of eating in the morning came to be seen as a way to lose calories during the day and, consequently, lose weight.
This is because, when having the first meal, people avoid eating or compensating throughout the day on other things, such as quick and low-nutritious snacks, giving the body only the essentials.
The relationship between weight and the first meal of the day
To understand this issue, a survey conducted and published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) sought to compare the weight variation between people who consume breakfast and those who do not.
The researchers analyzed 13 studies on the subject to be able to check the influence of the morning meal on the weight and amount of calories ingested, some focusing on weight variation and others with the aim of analyzing energy intake.
The result showed a small variation in the weight of those who skip breakfast. As they consume less calories, due to the fact of skipping a meal, the caloric gain for these people was lower, which influenced their weight.
However, the study’s analysis period was short, seven weeks for weight assessment and two weeks for energy.
Despite the limitations of the study, the result showed the opposite of common sense, reporting that the habit of having breakfast does not help to lose weight.
Through the study, it was seen that people who ate breakfast at the end of the day had consumed, on average, 260 more calories compared to people who skipped the meal. In addition, those who ate breakfast had a greater appetite in the afternoon.
The dangers of skipping breakfast
Despite the results, the interpretation of this study requires caution, as the meal in the morning is essential for health. Through the food eaten it is possible to have more energy to work, study and maintain a good mood, for example.
In addition, when skipping this meal, the brain can understand the habit as an abstinence. Therefore, the body may find it necessary to accumulate fat as a form of energy storage.
The final recommendation of the study is that the practice of having breakfast is not suitable for people who want to lose weight, as it can cause the opposite effect. However, it also highlights the importance of further studies to affirm the influence of this meal on the scale.
Changes in routine – such as exercising and maintaining a proper diet – can have a more positive effect on people’s lives than cutting a meal. However, this assessment should be made by a health professional.
All meals are essential for you to have provision during the day. It is also important to eat at the right times, even with the intention of losing weight.
Use other options, adjust the measures, change foods, but remember to have medical monitoring.
