Want to lose weight? Then, don't skip breakfast

Those aiming to shed a few pounds often tend to skip a meal, believing that would aid weight loss. However, a new study has found that skipping breakfast could result in you gaining more weight.

There's a link between habitual skipping of breakfast and obesity, researchers led by Kevin Smith from Mayo Clinic in the US found. Also, people who never ate breakfast reported the greatest levels of weight gain over the course of one year.

"Infrequent breakfast consumption is associated with indices of central obesity and weight gain, with these associations being more evident in individuals who never eat breakfast", Smith was quoted as saying.

For the study, researchers analysed the breakfast habits of 347 people between 2005 and 2017, and they found that 26.7 per cent of the people who skipped breakfast were obese, compared to 10 per cent of those who ate breakfast.

Smith added: "Our findings on healthy adults are consistent with prior observations in the young, corroborating the concept that regular consumption of this meal is an important and independent contributor of healthy weight at all ages."

Breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day, and it's good to adhere to the saying, “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper." Breakfast gives you the necessary energy to start the day and it should be consumed within two hours of waking up. Try to include fruits and vegetables in your breakfast. The American Dietary Association (ADA) recommends including whole grains, lean protein and low-fat dairy as part of a balanced diet.

Studies have shown that breakfast can improve memory and concentration levels and it also lowers stress levels.