Eating breakfast helps teenagers lose weight, a survey of eating habits in the United States has found. The study showed that those who tuck in to a healthy breakfast – and therefore end up with a higher calorie intake – still tend to have a lower body mass index than those who skip the first meal of the day. The research was conducted at the University of Minnesota and published in the Paediatrics journal. Dr Mark Pereira, who led the research, admitted the study could paint a confusing picture for those who believe that the less you eat the less you weigh. ‘It may seem counterintuitive,’ he said. ‘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.’ Dr Peraira added that even cooked breakfasts were better than missing out on food altogether. ‘While it’s best to go for a healthy option – a wholegrain cereal for instance – the evidence does seem to suggest that eating anything is better than eating nothing.’ The research is one of a number of recent studies that give credence to […]