A five year study of over 2000 teenagers has concluded that Breakfast keeps teens lean..
Body-conscious teenagers who believe cutting out breakfast will help them lose weight are under a mishaprehensiom, as the opposite appears to be the case, according to research from the US.
In a five year study of more than 2,000 youngsters, those who missed breakfast were found to weigh about 5lbs (2.3kg) more than those who ate first thing, this was despite the fact that the breakfast-eaters consumed more calories in the course of the day.
it's ironic that the ones who aren't worried and eat in the mornings are the ones who keep their weight down
The study in Pediatrics found that breakfast eaters were likely to be much more active as well as mentally more alert..
The University of Minnesota research adds to a growing body of evidence that those who eat breakfast whether young or old are leaner than those who do not.
Lead researcher Mark Pereira said "It may seem counter-intuitive," adding "But while they ate more calories, they did more to burn those off, and that may be because those who ate breakfast did not feel so lethargic.
The research team also found that while it was best to go for a healthy option, a wholegrain cereal for instance the overall evidence did suggest that eating anything was better than eating nothing at all.
Around 25% of the group studied regularly missed breakfast, and the problem was particularly pronounced among young women.
"It's not just a girl problem, but it is certainly more of an issue among this group," states Mr Pereira.
"They skip breakfast because they worry about weight gain - and it's ironic that the ones who aren't worried and eat in the mornings are the ones who keep their weight down."
Meanwhile the Chairman of the Child Growth Foundation at the National Obesity Forum, said the findings of the study showed just how important it was to relay a clear and consistent message to young people.
Stating much of the problems of diet came about as a result of the mixed messages about obesity, adding "We need to make clear that eating regular meals is vital - and that a proper breakfast is very important."
"If you eat well first thing, you'll feel brighter, you'll have more get up and go - and that will mean you'll expend more energy."
Teenagers are not the only ones who may benefit from sitting down to a proper breakfast.
In a study of nearly 7,000 middle-aged people in Norfolk, a team from Cambridge University found that those who ate the most in the morning put on the least amount of weight.