The findings, reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, give some support to past studies finding that breakfast eaters are less likely to be overweight --- and that eating a high-quality breakfast, rather than grabbing a pastry, is the key.
Research has shown, for example, that people who eat a bowl of cereal for breakfast have a lower average weight than either those who skip breakfast or those who sit down to a plate of steak and eggs.
What's "unique" about the current study is that it suggests that breakfast foods low in "energy density" -- low in calories for a given amount of food -- "appear to predict better food choices for the rest of the day and may help with better management of body weight," Dr. James Rippe, one of the researchers on the work, said in a written statement.
Fruits, vegetables and high-fiber whole grains, for example, are low in energy density, while confections like Danish pastries and doughnuts have a high energy density. ~ Reuters Health, 18 Dec 2008
In the Philippines, many do not eat a healthy breakfast. Some consider eating 1-2 pan de sals and drinking coffee as breakfast.
Many, those who wake up late because they also sleep late, prefer to take brunch instead --- breakfast and lunch rolled together --- a bigger and heavier meal. After a long fast, pouring calories into your body might drive the glycemic indices to their maximum levels. Nothing wrong with that, if these get burned afterwards. But if there'd be no or little physical activity later on, these calories might evolve into unwanted poundage.
Eating a healthy breakfast is a must. And yes, you have to wake up early to make it qualify as 'breakfast' and instead of indulging in salty and high-fat food items, maybe we can train our tongues to try and give fruits and cereals a try. It will be difficult initially, but in the long-run, it will benefit us.
