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Updated: May 10, 2026
06:48
Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil
Published on: July 29, 2020
Breakfast frequency and development of metabolic risk
Andrew O Odegaard1, David R Jacobs, Lyn M Steffen
1Corresponding author: Andrew Odegaard, odeg0025@umn.edu.
Diabetes Care
|June 19, 2013
Summary
Eating breakfast daily is linked to a lower risk of developing metabolic conditions like obesity and hypertension. This healthy habit also contributed to less weight gain over 18 years.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Metabolic Health
- Nutritional Epidemiology
Background:
- The relationship between breakfast consumption frequency and metabolic health outcomes is not well-established.
- Understanding this link is crucial for public health recommendations regarding dietary habits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the frequency of breakfast intake and the incidence of various metabolic conditions.
- To analyze how regular breakfast consumption impacts weight gain and the risk of developing obesity, metabolic syndrome, and hypertension over time.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 3,598 participants from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study.
- Longitudinal follow-up over 18 years, assessing breakfast habits and metabolic health indicators.
- Cox regression models were used to determine hazard ratios for metabolic conditions in relation to breakfast intake frequency, adjusting for baseline adiposity.
Main Results:
- Daily breakfast eaters gained 1.9 kg less weight over 18 years compared to infrequent eaters (0-3 days/week).
- A stepwise decrease in the risk of abdominal obesity, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and hypertension was observed with increasing breakfast frequency.
- Daily breakfast consumption was associated with significantly reduced risks for abdominal obesity (HR 0.78), obesity (HR 0.80), metabolic syndrome (HR 0.82), and hypertension (HR 0.84).
- An inverse association was noted for type 2 diabetes (HR 0.81), particularly in black men and white men and women.
Conclusions:
- Daily breakfast intake is strongly associated with a reduced risk of a spectrum of metabolic conditions.
- Promoting regular breakfast consumption may be a valuable strategy for preventing metabolic diseases and managing weight.
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