Benefits of Breakfast in Adolescents

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the effect of a protein-rich breakfast on appetite, food cravings, and subsequent food intake in breakfast-skipping adolescents. Methods: 15 healthy, “breakfast skipping” adolescents (age 14 ± 1 y; BMI 79 ± 4 %ile; breakfast 2 ± 1 occasions/wk) randomly consumed, on 3 separate days, a breakfast meal of 24% estimated daily energy needs containing the RDA for protein (18 ± 1 g protein) (PN), a higher amount of dietary protein (48 ± 2 g protein) (PR), or no breakfast (breakfast skipping, BS). Post-meal appetite and food craving responses were collected over a 4-h period followed by an ad libitum lunch buffet. Results: Following both breakfast meals, hunger was lower vs. BS (-4305 ± 1131 vs. 501 ± 1263 mm•240 min; P<0.01) while fullness was greater vs. BS (4143 ± 1152 vs. 1066 ± 528 mm•240 min; P<0.001). No differences were observed between meals. Both breakfast meals also led to a decrease in prospective food consumption vs. BS (-4100 ± 758 vs. 1304 ± 868 mm•240 min; P<0.001). PR led to a greater reduction vs. PN (trend, P=0.06). No differences in sweet cravings were observed between breakfast meals and BS. PR and PN tended to lead to a greater reduction in salty (P=0.062) and meaty cravings (P=0.055) vs. BS; no differences were observed between meals. The PR and PN breakfast meals led to fewer calories consumed at lunch (434 ± 56 kcal) vs. BS (490 ± 63 kcal; P<0.05). PR led to 127 ± 40 fewer calories compared to 14 ± 23 more calories in PN (P<0.005). Conclusions: These findings indicate that the addition of a protein-rich breakfast beneficially impacts appetite control and food intake over the short-term and may potentially be an effective dietary strategy to re-establish energy balance and improve body weight management in overweight and obese young people