A new study shows that people who eat breakfast every day are less likely to become obese, develop Type 2 diabetes, or gain stomach fat.
Researcher Andrew Odegaard, PhD, MPH, of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health says having breakfast just four to six times a week may help. The study included more than 5,000 men and women. None had Type 2 diabetes when they entered the study.
Seven years into the study, they filled out diet questionnaires that included a question asking how many times a week they ate breakfast. They were followed for an average of 18 years.
People who ate breakfast daily fared best. Compared to people who ate breakfast three or fewer times per week, they were:
- 34% less likely to develop Type 2 diabetes
- 43% less likely to become obese
- 40% less likely to develop fat around the tummy (abdominal obesity)