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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    Does skipping breakfast affect my weight?

    Related Topic
    Weight Management
    I tend to be in a rush every morning in order to get to work on time. I am slightly overweight and have been skipping breakfast. Is this good or bad?
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  • 2

    Thanks

    Marla Bozic

    HealthShare Member

    Breakfast is so important to get your body on track for the day.

    Studies have shown that people who skip breakfast eat more during the day than those who do eat breakfast.

    We want to consume our calories for fuel when we are going to need them. A strong breakfast will help to keep you alert and active during the day. By skipping breakfast you push those calories to later in the day when we are not able to digest them as well.

    Breakfast for a king, lunch for a prince and dinner for a pauper!

    www.vitaminL.com.au

    Hope this is helpful.

    Cheers,
    Marla
    Nutrition and Health Coach

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  • Dr Rebecca Reynolds

    Nutritionist

    Rebecca Charlotte Reynolds, PhD (Dr Bec) Personable and ethical registered nutritionist (RNutr) and lecturer at UNSW Australia in lifestyle and health. Regular consultant to the … View Profile

    Hi! 

    I am not sure I agree with Maria's comment, “By skipping breakfast you push those calories to later in the day when we are not able to digest them as well”… 

    … But I do agree with her that skipping breakfast is bad for anyone and has been associated with increased body weight in numerous scientific studies. 

    Try eating some nuts and/or fruit on the run in the morning.

    :) Dr Bec

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  • Kaye Haslam

    Dietitian, Nutritionist

    As a private practice Dietitian/Nutritionist with over 30 years experience I have a special interest in weight management & related health issues such as Diabetes, … View Profile

    I think this is “bad” & certainly can contribute to poor weight control.

    The word breakfast means “break the fast” so eating within 1 hour of commencing your active day is the best nutrition principle.

    Try a fruit smoothie or “up & go” or as DR. Bec sugested fruit/nuts.


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  • Sally Garrard

    Dietitian

    Sally is an Accredited Sports Dietitian, Accredited Practicing Dietitian, and Exercise Physiologist. She has a special interest in endurance-sport athletes, disordered eating and weight management. … View Profile

    I would say it has an indirect effect on your weight. By skipping breakfast you are setting yourself up to overeat/choose poorly later in the day. It may not be the first meal that you end up eating, but chances are, at some point it will catch up with you.

    If you don't have breakfast at home - that's fine - so long as you eat within 1-2 hours of waking up, I would count this as breakfast. 

    Eating a meal certainly does increase your metabolic rate, but not as much as activity does. So if you are really keen to shift the weight - why not walk to work, and then have breakfast once you get there?

    A great on-the-go breakfast is bircher muesli - it can be made the night before & it is compact enough to travel well in a backpack!

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  • Arlene Normand

    Dietitian

    Arlene is a registered practising dietitian, with a private practice in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, and has built a strong business over the last … View Profile

    Never skip breakfast. “Break your fast” after sleep and start your metabolism for the day. The variety for breakfast is limitless. If you want something quick to do the trick grab a yoghurt or a banana. Ideally sit and relax and eat breakfast. If you don't give a car petrol it won't go - the same with your body. Rather skip dinner than breakfast. The brain needs glucose to function, consequently it needs breakfast in the morning to carry out its tasks for the day - concentrate, think, etc. Breakfast becomes a habit, and eventually you will wake up hungry for breakfast. Your body needs to change it eating patterns by eating a smaller dinner so you are hungry in the morning.

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  • 3

    Thanks

    Diane McGeachy

    Counsellor, Psychologist, Psychotherapist

    Diane McGeachy B.Psychology, MA. CounsellingPerth, Western AustraliaDiane is a young, energetic practitioner who is skilled in supporting individuals in their personal growth and self-development. She … View Profile

    It sounds like you have a busy schedule to keep up with. There is no “good” or “bad” only what works for you and what you feel comfortable with.  You could ask yourself is this how you want your average day to look and feel like? If you are so rushed in the morning that you do not have time to feed yourself and nourish your body it is important to ask yourself what can be changed? Or do you want to change this pattern? Perhaps you do not enjoy eating breakfast.

    My personal experience and experience from working with clients is that breakfast is an important meal and by skipping out on it you are setting yourself up for inconsistent eating behaviours. Usually when a person does not eat breakfast it can lead to feelings of ravenous hunger that can lead to binge eating to satisfy those feelings of extreme hunger.

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  • Jessica Ruescher

    Dietitian

    Jess grew up in country Western Australia, and moved to Perth for university in order to study her growing passion in nutrition. Jess commenced practicing … View Profile

    Hello :)

    Breakfast is so important to break-the-fast at the beginning of the day. Skipping breakfast sets us up to snack on energy dense unhealthy foods, and a lot of it, as you look for that ‘energy kick’. This has been shown to lead to weight gain.

    By having breakfast, you are kick starting your metabolism and feeding yourself the fuel you need to get through the day. Just ensure it is a healthy breakfast, as many of the cereals on the shelf at the supermarket are high in sugar and salt and low in fibre, which is unhealthy.

    Go for the Low GI options which will keep you fuller for longer and provide you with sustained energy. Some examples of a Low GI breakfast include Weetbix, porridge, untoasted muesli, wholegrain bread/toast, low fat yogurt and fruit or for those who are on the go - try an Up and Go drink.

    Cheers :)

    Jessica Butcher
    Accredited Practising Dietitian
    Melbourne CBD

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