Skipping Breakfast Enhances Teen Obesity

Posted on March 6, 2008 in Latest News

Believe it or not but eating breakfast can help teens fight obesity in their latter years of life. Research claims that about 12 to 34% of children and adolescents skip their breakfast regularly and that percentage keeps increasing with growing years. This tendency to skip breakfast to shed the extra calories doesn’t help. Instead, evidence suggests that teen obesity has tripled over the past two decades which can be a probable outcome of skipping a healthy breakfast.

How does skipping breakfast enhance teen obesity?

Researchers from the University of Minnesota are of the opinion that skipping breakfast does not help you lose calories or put on fewer calories. Quite contrary to what one may expect, skipping breakfast can lead to overeating in the later hours of the day. This regular bingeing and unhealthy eating patterns can lead to teenage obesity.

Results of the study

Some results of the study published in Pediatrics have reported the following results with respect to skipping breakfast and teen obesity:

Teens who ate breakfast on a regular basis remained physically active throughout their growing years
Teens who ate breakfast also recorded a lower body mass index which is a way of measuring weight according to height in order to estimate the obesity levels
Teens who ate breakfast had less saturated fat and hence weighed less and gained less weight
Teens who ate breakfast on a regular basis also ate more of fiber and carbohydrates as compared to those teenagers who skipped breakfast

Though researchers are still trying to break further ground, breakfast can prove to be an effective tool for preventing teen obesity. In addition, a healthy breakfast can also set off daily healthy eating patterns.

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Skipping Breakfast Enhances Teen Obesity

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