For decades, breakfast has been hailed as the most important meal of the day, but emerging research challenges this long-held belief. While around 94% of UK adults regularly eat breakfast, a growing body of evidence suggests that skipping it may not be as detrimental as once thought.
Studies have linked breakfast consumption to lower body mass index (BMI), but causation remains unclear. A 12-week study of 52 obese women found that weight loss was tied to changing routines rather than breakfast itself. Those who usually ate breakfast lost more weight when they stopped, while habitual skippers lost more when they started.
Professor Alexandra Johnstone of the University of Aberdeen suggests that breakfast-eaters tend to adopt other healthy habits, such as not smoking and exercising regularly. A 2020 review of 45 studies confirmed that skipping breakfast increases obesity risk, but this may reflect broader lifestyle factors.
Intermittent fasting, which extends the overnight fast, has gained popularity. A 2018 pilot study found it improved blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity in men with pre-diabetes. Dietician Sarah Elder notes that breakfast replenishes energy stores used overnight, but the debate over its necessity continues.
